Wellwellwell fueled by EVEN Hotelshttps://www.wellwellwell.com
Check out Wellwellwell.com, and read about how easy it is to make wellness a part of your travel routine.Fri, 04 May 2018 18:11:19 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8Best Ways to Keep Hydrated While Travelinghttps://www.wellwellwell.com/best-ways-to-keep-hydrated-while-traveling/
Fri, 04 May 2018 18:06:04 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6845Dehydration can affect everything from blood pressure to critical thinking skills — not to mention overall energy. While it’s one thing to stay hydrated at home, keeping track of water intake on the go can pose a challenge for anyone juggling lots of demands and trying to be in multiple places at once. By following a few smart tips, […]

Dehydration can affect everything from blood pressure to critical thinking skills — not to mention overall energy. While it’s one thing to stay hydrated at home, keeping track of water intake on the go can pose a challenge for anyone juggling lots of demands and trying to be in multiple places at once. By following a few smart tips, you can help set yourself up for good hydration while traveling:

Know What You Need

Most women should take in around 11.5 cups (or 2.7 liters) of fluid, including water, other beverages and food, per day, while most men should aim for 15.5 (3.7 liters), according to the Mayo Clinic. Most people ingest about 20 percent of their daily fluids from food, with the remainder coming from beverages.

Reaching your daily water intake goal helps your cells, tissues and organs work the way they’re intended, and gives you energy to power through your day. If your schedule keeps you moving on a regular basis, there’s little room for error, so listen to your body and drink wisely.

Have Bottle, Will Travel

Particularly useful for frequent travelers, a reliable, reusable container can save time and money while reducing your carbon footprint (case in point: avoiding the dreaded line for a $5 plastic bottled water at one airport after another). Here are a few options: S’well ($25-$60), Klean Kanteen ($15-$75), and Simple Modern ($12-$40), all of which win praise for their portability, longevity and sleek design.

What’s more, modern reusable bottles can keep water cold for up to 24 hours. When you’re traveling, you can easily fill up at water stations at airport gates, hotels (EVEN Hotels offers a filtered, flavored water bar in the lobby) and coffee shops to keep you topped off through the day.

You Are What You Eat

While water is the gold standard when it comes to keeping hydrated, lots of other foods and drinks can boost your diet’s water content. Fresh produce, for example, is always a winner, with watermelon, cucumber, celery, tomatoes, cauliflower, bell pepper, spinach and iceberg lettuce topping the list of foods that owe at least 90 percent of their weight to good old water.

If you prefer flavor in your drinks, try herbal tea, fruit infused water and natural coconut water (with no added sugar or salt) to punch up your daily hydration. Pop into a health-focused Cork & Kale Market and Bar the next time you’re staying (or near) an EVEN Hotel, and you’ll find lots of tasty ways to keep yourself satisfied and hydrated on the fly.

Next-Level Knowledge

In addition to drinking enough water and incorporating fresh foods into your meals, you can make other smart choices to keep your body in check while traveling.

Although that mid-flight glass of wine or cocktail might seem like a great way to unwind while in transit, it can carry a heftier price than what shows up on your expense account. That’s because while the human body functions best in an environment where the humidity level is around 50 percent, the recirculated air in a plane hovers around 10 to 20 percent humidity, literally drying out your body as you fly.

Since alcohol and coffee both have diuretic properties, try to refrain from wheels-up to wheels-down. If you can’t resist, at least be sure to balance your beverage of choice with a few swigs of water before you deplane.

Your body also loses water weight through respiration while you sleep at night, so no matter what you eat or drink during the day, have a glass of water right before you go to bed, and another right after you wake up. Turning that little habit into a daily and nightly routine can help you stay on track — and in good health — no matter where you go.

]]>Top 6 Ways to Keep Your Zen When Travelinghttps://www.wellwellwell.com/best-ways-to-keep-your-zen-when-traveling/
Thu, 05 Apr 2018 17:15:27 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6839You may love the idea of discovering a new destination, but not the stress of getting there. From anxiety about canceled or delayed flights to sleepless nights from jet lag, traveling can take a toll on the body and mind. Here are six tips to help restore your zen and find balance on your next […]

You may love the idea of discovering a new destination, but not the stress of getting there. From anxiety about canceled or delayed flights to sleepless nights from jet lag, traveling can take a toll on the body and mind. Here are six tips to help restore your zen and find balance on your next trip:

1. Meditate on the Go

Whether you’re stressed by the experience of flying or just the mile-long security line, you can use mindful meditation to ease travel woes. Beginning a meditation routine may sound complicated for newbies, but guided meditations for flying and traveling make it easy to find your bliss.

Follow the script to ease flying jitters, or use technology to tune out stressful situations with smartphone meditation apps. Voices and soothing sounds guide your breathing and help drown out travel chatter.

2. Find a Yoga Class (Or Create Your Own)

Spending hours on a cramped plane can wreak havoc on your body. Get back in balance with a restorative yoga class at a local studio — or use EVEN Hotel’s custom workouts and includedyoga matto do a session in the privacy of room. As little as 15 minutes can help fight muscle soreness, and yoga’s shown to offer major benefits, including reducing anxiety and stress, helping naturally treat insomnia, boosting serotonin and decreasing joint pain.

Up the ante on your practice and get some Vitamin D by joining an outdoor community session in the place you’re visiting. Can’t find a class? Tote your yoga mat to a local green space and do sun salutations until you feel restored. Namaste!

3. Get Outside

One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with a new place is by exploring on your own two feet. Instead of using a ride-sharing service, get to know the neighborhood by going for a run or walk near your hotel. Reap benefits of being outdoors like boosted Vitamin D levels and reduced computer eye strain while finding local shops and restaurants to visit. For an extra dose of the feel goods, take your run or walk to a park or natural running trail.

4. Go for a Float

Floatation therapy (a.k.a. sensory deprivation tank floating) promises to help reduce stress, while promoting a sense of calm. During a session, you float effortlessly in a private pod filled with 95-degree water and a high concentration of Epsom salts. Light and sound are eliminated so you can focus on — nothing.

Don’t worry about maintaining all your healthy home habits when you’re away. Instead, focus on a few that matter most and hit pause on the others until you return home. For instance, you may opt to maintain your stretching routine, but ditch the long runs. You’ll enjoy the trip more knowing you’ve given yourself permission to let a few things slide.

6. Stay Fit and Sleep Well at EVEN Hotels.

Book your room with wellness-focused EVEN Hotels so you can focus on your trip — instead of your food and fitness routine. EVEN takes the guesswork out of on-the-road fitness with in-room training zones stocked with a foam roller, yoga mat, yoga ball and resistance bands along with training guides illustrating popular exercises. Find cardio equipment and free weights in the Athletic Studio — where you can also access free video workouts, or exercise outdoors with a provided map of safe running routes.

EVEN also helps you stick to your healthy diet at its Cork & Kale Market Cafe, where you’ll find fresh, tasty cuisine, balanced grab-n-go choices, and options for special diets so you’ll never be without great eats. When it’s time to rest your head, there’s no better place to drift off than in a restfully designed rooms with comfortable, natural eucalyptus bedding.

]]>Best Guilt-Free Happy Hours in Brooklynhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/best-guilt-free-happy-hours-in-brooklyn/
Mon, 26 Mar 2018 18:00:25 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6834Within walking distance of the flagship EVEN Hotels Brooklyn, you’ll find deliciously healthy food and drink options on nearly every corner. To carry you into a twinkling city night, here are six of such favorites for happy hour: Colonie If you’re looking for an elegant option, Colonie is ideal for entertaining clients or indulging on your own. Named […]

Within walking distance of the flagship EVEN Hotels Brooklyn, you’ll find deliciously healthy food and drink options on nearly every corner. To carry you into a twinkling city night, here are six of such favorites for happy hour:

Colonie

If you’re looking for an elegant option, Colonie is ideal for entertaining clients or indulging on your own. Named for Bruijkleen Colonie, as the original Dutch settlers called Brooklyn, the restaurant features modern American dishes from locally sourced ingredients. At happy hour, held Monday through Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m., you can snack on ricotta crostini drizzled with Catskills honey, pickled vegetables and the dollar raw bar, paired with thoughtful cocktails and local wines on tap.

Bhealthy.buzz

For an alternative to a traditional happy hour, take a quick wal from the Even Hotel to BHealthy.buzz, a locally owned juice and shake spot. Whether you go with the energizing Immune Booster (kale, beet, pineapple, ginger, apple) or a transporting booze-free, dairy-free piña colada, you’ll feel good about yourself, while relaxing at an outdoor table or in a sun-drenched window seat.

Friend of a Farmer

The Brooklyn outpost of Friend of a Farmer stays true to the Manhattan original’s farm-to-table ethos You’ll feel right at home in this rustic space warmed by a fireplace. Happy hour, held Monday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., features specialty cocktails, fresh-pressed juices and weekly small plate specials. Get cozy with the wide selection of sustainable and biodynamic wines and lose track of the bustling city outside.

LuAnne’s Wild Ginger

With several locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, pan-Asian vegan spot LuAnne’s Wild Ginger has been included among the “10 Best Vegetarian Restaurants In NYC” (Gothamist). The location at 235 Dekalb Avenue makes for an easy 20-minute stroll from the Even Hotel Downtown Brooklyn to happy hour, held Monday to Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.. You’ll find discounted wine and beer specials paired with small bites like steamed dumplings, seared miso eggplant and seitan skewers.

June

Cozy and beautiful, with an intimate bar that spills onto a lush back patio, June is the type of place where you can ask the bartenders, “What’s the deal with all these orange wines I’ve been seeing lately?” and get a thoughtful, helpful reply. Happy hour, offered Monday to Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m., features a seasonal punch of the day and small bites, such as potato croquettes and radishes with crème fraîche butter and preserved citrus.

Bareburger

If only a burger will do, find yourself a spot at the bar at Bareburger, a New York City-based mini-chain known for serving sustainably raised meats, as well as its meatless Impossible Burger. You can pair your sandwich with an all-natural sarsaparilla or a craft beer from the well-curated list.

]]>Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch Neighborhood Guidehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/sarasota-lakewood-ranch-neighborhood-guide/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:42:00 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6829Staying at the EVEN Hotel Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch can help keep you on track with your health and wellness goals as you enjoy the nearby beaches, historic sites and charming downtown area. The EVEN Hotel Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch caters to fitness-oriented guests with an onsite Fitness Center, heated pool and whirlpool, and exercise equipment in each room. You can […]

Staying at the EVEN Hotel Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch can help keep you on track with your health and wellness goals as you enjoy the nearby beaches, historic sites and charming downtown area.

The EVEN Hotel Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch caters to fitness-oriented guests with an onsite Fitness Center, heated pool and whirlpool, and exercise equipment in each room. You can get every day off to a great start with fresh squeezed orange juice and healthy breakfast favorites at the Cork & Kale Market and Bar.

Here are some other healthy activities and restaurants to partake in around Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch:

Great Gyms

If you want to squeeze in a quick workout between adventures around the beaches, head to 20 Minutes to Fitness for a free introductory session. The gym features special equipment that targets several muscle groups at once to cut down your workout time.

Challenge yourself to a full body circuit routine or just hit the cardio machines for a sweat session at LA Fitness. The club features an indoor pool, sauna, indoor cycling center and a juice bar where you can order smoothies and healthy snacks.

Must-Try Classes

If you’ve always been curious about the benefits of the barre, make your way to barre3 Lakewood Ranch for classes that combine ballet, pilates and yoga. You can also plan ahead and book your class online.

Power up your fitness routine with a high-energy workout at Title Boxing Club. Sign up for a kickboxing class to get into your groove or join an MMA class to work on your fighter skills. The gym offers several different classes throughout the day so you can find one that matches your skill level.

Get a healthy groove on at Fly Dance Fitness, a studio offering classes choreographed to everything from hip-hop to contemporary country music. You can pick up some new dance moves here from experienced instructors while scorching calories.

Healthy Eats

Stay on track with your healthy eating goals with a lunch or dinner bowl at Florida-based mini-chain Fresh Kitchen. You can customize your bowl with a variety of grilled meats, roasted vegetables and sauces made in house.

For authentic Asian flavors, head to Thai Spice and Sushi. The Bangkok-born owner has built a menu around traditional salads, curries and noodle dishes, accented by daily fresh fish specials and vegan and vegetarian offerings. Don’t miss the homemade coconut cake for dessert.

You can create your own mixed grill of meat, fish or a combo at Apollonia Mediterranean Grill. This casual eatery also serves local seafood and traditional Greek dishes, including gyro, spanokopita and a variety of hummus and other meze.

Amazing Trails

At the lakeside Conservatory Park, you can stroll out on the pier or burn some calories with a run on the trail. Afterwards, take a break from the sun at one of several pavilions or try out the fishing from the pier.

You may glimpse some local wildlife as you hit the running trail or go road biking around the 110-acre Heron’s Nest Nature Park. This spot includes a 0.9-mile loop trail that’s used for birding, walking and trail running, as well as two lakes — Heron Lake and Summerfield Lake.

]]>Seattle Neighborhood Guidehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/seattle-neighborhood-guide/
Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:59:22 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6824Known as the Emerald City because of its lush greenery, Seattle is designed for wellness — and the area surrounding EVEN Hotel Seattle-South Lake Union is certainly no exception. At the hotel, you can break a sweat in the well-equipped Athletic Studio, grab a heart-healthy snack at Cork & Kale Market and Bar, find your Zen with […]

Known as the Emerald City because of its lush greenery, Seattle is designed for wellness — and the area surrounding EVEN Hotel Seattle-South Lake Union is certainly no exception. At the hotel, you can break a sweat in the well-equipped Athletic Studio, grab a heart-healthy snack at Cork & Kale Market and Bar, find your Zen with an in-room yoga mat and sleep in serenity atop natural eucalyptus fiber bedding. Once you’ve rested up, check out these spots around the neighborhood:

Great Gyms

Get training in the same system that the Israel Defense Forces use — a combination of martial arts, boxing, and wrestling — at Krav Maga Seattle, known for its friendly instructors and camaraderie among students.

It’s a party on a bike at CycleBar South Lake Union, where the music sets the stage for a fun indoor cycling ride. Try out a themed class like Mashup Monday, Throwback Thursday or Happy Hour (a ride on Friday afternoons that ends with drinks and snacks).

To slow down, drop by Be Luminous Yoga, which offers a little something for everyone: heated power flow to challenge you, unheated slow flow for pose refinement and restorative yoga for relaxation and grounding.

Must-Try Classes

Fresh, organic ingredients are the focus at Hipcooks, where three-hour classes cover everything from Date Night (sexy bruschettas, zingy risotto and gorgeous ginger-raspberry crème brulee) to Dim Sum and Then Some (steamed shrimp wontons, lotus flower pork puff pastry and four types of tea to taste).

Although it takes a while to master the art of letterpress printing, you can dip your toe into this medium via the workshop Letterpress: Create at Lunch, offered by the School of Visual Concepts. In two hours, learn how to select the right typeface, mix inks and operate a hand-proofing press, among other tips.

The flagship location of outdoor outfitter REI offers several classes a week covering virtually every pursuit under the sun. Discover the basics of lightweight backpacking, practice tying climbing knots, take smarter smartphone photos or tackle the 65-foot climbing wall that sits within the store — rewarding your efforts with stunning views from the top.

Healthy Eats

At the South Lake Union location of Juicy Café, you create your own bowl by choosing a base, adding a protein and then topping it with tasty ingredients like avocado mash, garlic citrus cashew cream and organic coconut flakes. Fresh juices, wellness shots and superfood smoothies are also available.

If getting your full servings of vegetables is ever a struggle, ‘Table is for you — the focus is all about making veggies as tasty as possible. The hand-formed ‘Table Burger wins raves as one of the best vegan sandwich options around.

For breakfast, Portage Bay Café is always a treat, thanks to its emphasis on local and organic ingredients. When you order from the Breakfast Bar portion of the menu — which offers creative takes on pancakes and French toast — you get access to the bar’s selection of seasonal fruit, nuts and whipped cream. On weekends, reservations are a must to avoid a long wait.

Amazing Trails

Get a great introduction to life on the water via the six-mile Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop, which takes you through Lake Union Park and Gasworks Park. The latter is unique for repurposing old utility equipment into art.

For more serious mileage, you can join the Burke-Gilman Trail from the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop. The popular trail stretches 27 miles through multiple neighborhoods — including Ballard, the University District and Fremont — and is used by everyone from commuters to families out for a stroll to athletes training for endurance events.

Merge the great outdoors with culture by walking to the Olympic Sculpture Park, an outdoor extension of the Seattle Art Museum. Benches in the shape of eyes, the resplendent red “Eagle” and a fountain that represents father and son are just a few of the pieces you’ll see against a backdrop of the Puget Sound.

The EVEN Hotel Eugene makes it easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Enjoy the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center, in-room fitness zones for private workouts, and nutritious and tasty food options from the Cork and Kale Market & Bar. Minutes from downtown Eugene, the property sits on the edge of the more than 400-acre Alton Baker Park and the north branch of the pristine Willamette River. EVEN Hotel Eugene is also the closest hotel to Autzen Stadium, home field for the University of Oregon’s NCAA Division I Ducks football team.

In a city that values maintaining a healthy balance between work and play, you will find plenty of places to exercise, try a class, eat well, and explore without the need for a vehicle:

Great Gyms

Designed with the outdoor climber in mind, the walls and routes at Crux Rock Climbing Gym include roofs, overhangs, low angles and bouldering caves. With 30 rope stations throughout the 9,000-square-foot facility, Crux is a popular destination year-round and particularly during the wet and rainy season.

Located in the heart of the upscale Oakway Center outdoor shopping mall, Orangetheory Fitness puts interval training — which monitors your heart rate for the most efficient burn — at the core of its hour-long workout experience.

Blending yoga, Pilates, and ballet, workout sessions at Barre3 in downtown Eugene help tone and strengthen the body while burning calories. Be prepared to sweat and groove as you flow through the hour-long sessions set to upbeat music.

Must-Try Classes

The area’s first DIY Workshop space for newbies and corporate team building events, The Craft House Eugene looks to empower people one power tool at a time. Bolts of brightly colored fabric and spools of whimsical ribbon counterbalance an organized panel of drills, nail guns and orbital sanders in a century-old refurbished church. Workshops are organized into two themes: crafting and building, with projects ranging from leather earrings to wooden plant stands.

A cornerstone business within Eugene’s popular 5th Street Public Market, Provisions Market Hall is a popular gathering spot for food and wine enthusiasts. Regular “Taste and Learn” classes range from raw foods and French cooking to cheeses of the world and regional wine pairings.

Valuing Earth, creativity, and community, MECCA (Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts) helps to divert scrap material out of the waste stream. MECCA accepts donations of nearly any and all art supplies, including ribbon glitter, paint, clay and corks, and gives them an “object afterlife.” The building’s open studio space is available to anyone on a pay-what-you-can basis or you can sign up for a workshop or themed event.

Healthy Eats

Vegetarians and vegans will love the wide selection of comfort foods at Cornbread Café. This mom-and-pop-style diner sources local and organic ingredients from within the nearby food chain whenever possible. Popular items range from traditional meat-free chili and cornbread to Southern-fried tofu and seitan loaf.

Part of a regional chain founded in Eugene, Café Yumm is best known for its signature “yumm” bowls, which layer ingredients like fresh avocado, diced tomatoes, black olives, beans, and rice. Yumm bowls are topped with Yumm sauce — a blend of oil, almonds, chickpeas, soybeans and buttery-flavored nutritional yeast.

Held weekly each Saturday between early April and mid-November, the Lane County Farmers Market offers a multitude of vendors featuring locally made, handcrafted wares and the freshest “farm to table” produce. The International Food Court houses 15 outdoor stalls, while the Market Stage typically features six different acts throughout the day.

Amazing Trails

At an elevation of 2,058 feet, Spencer Butte is the tallest and most prominent landmark in Eugene. Considered a moderate-to-difficult hike, the journey to the top begins under a verdant canopy of dense ferns and majestic Douglas firs that gives way to a rocky outcropping and panoramic views of the Emerald Valley.

As someone who helped establish Eugene as “Track Town USA,” the late All-American middle- and long-distance runner and Olympian Steve “Pre” Prefontaine remains a local legend more than 40 years after his untimely death. For a local “bucket list” experience, head to Alton Baker Park and seek out on Pre’s Trail, a 4.07-mile long running and walking trail built in tribute to Prefontaine.

A 209-acre living tree museum five miles outside of downtown Eugene, the Mount Pisgah Arboretum draws hikers, picnickers, school groups and wedding parties. A network of trails leads to the 1,531-foot-high summit.

]]>10 Best All-Natural Grooming Products for Menhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/10-best-all-natural-grooming-products-for-men/
Mon, 12 Feb 2018 18:34:04 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6813Here’s a New Year’s resolution you can actually keep: give your grooming routine an all-natural overhaul. These all-natural grooming products for men offer a great way to start going green. And, if you forget any of these while traveling, or want to experiment with new ones, EVEN Hotels stocks EO products, plant-based options that’ll help you stay […]

Here’s a New Year’s resolution you can actually keep: give your grooming routine an all-natural overhaul. These all-natural grooming products for men offer a great way to start going green. And, if you forget any of these while traveling, or want to experiment with new ones, EVEN Hotels stocks EO products, plant-based options that’ll help you stay on track:

Face

Cleanse: The first step in any skin care routine is cleansing, which should be done morning and night, especially if you lead an active lifestyle. Choose one that’s gentle enough to be used twice daily, like Josh Rosebrook Complete Moisture Cleanse (available in travel size). African black soap and licorice wash away dirt while aloe vera gel, sea buckthorn and honey moisturize.

Tip: Leave your cleanser on for a few minutes before rinsing.

Moisturize (Part 1): Traveling really takes its toll on skin, so make sure your moisturizing game is strong. If you’re prone to dryness or are just looking for a more powerful punch, try a vitamin-infused water, such as Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator, followed by a serum.

Moisturize (Part 2): Once you’ve spritzed your face with a vitamin-rich water, moderately spray the palm of your hand; add one or two pumps of a serum, like Mahalo Vitality Elixir, and massage onto face. Not only does this serum moisturize, it rejuvenates, calms inflammations and firms skin.

Tip: If you sport a beard, be sure to apply the serum to it, because facial hair is just as susceptible to dryness as the skin on your face. If you shave, however, read on.

Shampoo: The problem with most shampoos is they use ingredients that strip hair of natural oils. True Botanicals Nourishing Shampoo lathers nicely without stripping, so don’t hold back. It’s also rich in antioxidants, including catechins, which are derived from green and white tea leaves.

Condition: Not only is conditioning an important step in hair care, it’s one that’s readily available in all-natural versions. Look for one, like True Botanicals Nourishing Conditioner, that deeply moisturizes, but won’t weigh down hair (especially if you have thin/balding hair).

Tip: Apply conditioner to damp—not soaking wet—hair, and give it a few minutes before rinsing.

Body

Cleanse: Not only is African black soap an effective cleanser, it also rids the body of dead skin. This is noteworthy for men who don’t exfoliate the skin on their body. Shea Terra African Black Soap also includes shea butter and coconut cream oil that ensure your skin isn’t left dry.

Moisturize: Speaking of dryness, the skin on your body is just as susceptible to it as the skin on your face. Grown Alchemist Body Cream uses pomegranate butter, rosa damascena and acai berry in lieu of harsher ingredients to combat dryness.

]]>How to Pack the Essentials Without Checking a Baghttps://www.wellwellwell.com/how-to-pack-the-essentials-without-checking-a-bag/
Mon, 05 Feb 2018 15:18:34 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6807Even if you tend to over-pack for a business trip, you can learn to master the art of the carry-on bag. Here’s a guide to fitting everything you’ll need from morning workout to afternoon business meetings to dinner and drinks in a single rolling bag. Remember, you can leave your workout mat at home, because EVEN […]

Even if you tend to over-pack for a business trip, you can learn to master the art of the carry-on bag.

Here’s a guide to fitting everything you’ll need from morning workout to afternoon business meetings to dinner and drinks in a single rolling bag.

Remember, you can leave your workout mat at home, because EVEN Hotels provides an in-room yoga mat, as well as a balance ball and workout videos, as part of your personalized fitness experience.

Get Organized

Before anything, stock up on Ziploc bags in several sizes, including gallon and quart. These resealable bags are invaluable when it comes to stowing, accessing — and protecting — nutritional supplements, electronic accessories, liquids, creams and gels.

As for the roller bag itself, a lightweight soft-shelled model with zipper for expansion is a good idea. It will offer some yield if you need to deal with those annoying “see if your suitcase fits” used by some airlines, and it can later stretch to accommodate things you buy on the road.

Be Well-Suited

You’ll need a garment bag that fits inside your suitcase. Think function over form: It just needs to fold up and hang loose. Pockets, bells and whistles are a waste of space. A garment bag is the last item you’re going to put in the suitcase, and the first you’ll want to take out when unpacking so it can hang on a rack or hook. Wrinkles are the enemy!

If the Shoe Fits…Pack It

Footwear can eat up significant suitcase space — and cut into your precious weight allowance — if your airline imposes restrictions. Look for shoes that are flexible, lightweight and malleable. If they flatten, that’s inches saved. If you must bring leather loafers or dress shoes, make the most of their interior by filling them with socks.

Rolling Rules

If you’ve got a knack for folding clothes flat, go with it. But rolling offers an ideal combination of saving space and fighting wrinkles. Towards the latter goal, cotton and synthetic blends are going to serve you best. Fortunately, that’s usually the case with your workout wardrobe, which you’ll absolutely want to use in EVEN Hotel’s best-in-class Athletic Studio.

Think versatility when selecting your clothes. A single pair of neutral or dark pants can go with several days’ worth of colorful shirts, both dress and casual. Grey jeans can sometimes work with a jacket and tie, yet be comfortable in a casual restaurant or bar after hours.

Don’t Bulk Up Your Bag

Heading somewhere literally cool, or downright freezing? Don’t waste luggage space on bulky, space-sucking winter jackets and sweaters: Wear these while in transit. You can also layer with lightweight, athleisure wear, like UNIQLO’s HEATTECH line, which is comfortable, sporty and ultra-warm.

Now you’re ready to roll — oh, and if you forget the toothbrush, your EVEN Hotel has one waiting for you.

]]>5 Morning Coffee Alternatives to Get You Out of Bedhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/5-morning-coffee-alternatives-to-get-you-out-of-bed/
Wed, 24 Jan 2018 13:56:03 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6802Whether you’re embarking on a month-long elimination diet, Whole30 style, trying to save a little cash by cutting out that daily latte, or simply taking a break from caffeine, here are some alternatives to drinking a cup of coffee to start your day: Lemon Water For those in the market for a minimum effort, maximum […]

Whether you’re embarking on a month-long elimination diet, Whole30 style, trying to save a little cash by cutting out that daily latte, or simply taking a break from caffeine, here are some alternatives to drinking a cup of coffee to start your day:

Lemon Water

For those in the market for a minimum effort, maximum results morning beverage, it doesn’t get better than lemon water. Simply squeeze half of the citrus into a glass of warm or room temperature water and get ready to see all sorts of benefits that wellness celebs and lifestyle gurus have been talking up for ages.

Fans of this morning refresher tout clearer skin, improved digestion and strengthening of immune systems after a couple weeks of lemon juicing. The magic of this concoction lies in its high levels of vitamin C and antioxidant properties, plus a little extra hydration never hurts anyone.

Matcha

Vibrate green tea lattes have been brightening up social media accounts for a while now — and with good reason. The visual appeal of this darling of the Japanese tea family is only the beginning of its appeal. Matcha’s caffeine content is balanced with theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation, making for a boost that’s never jittery. With more antioxidants than blueberries, this frothy green tea boasts superfood status, which makes perfect sense since it’s really just a bunch of ground up green leaves.

Mushroom Tea

Made with a genus of fungi known as cordyceps, this earthy brew is a staple among professional athletes and has recently made its way into the mass market. These funky looking mushrooms bring multiple positives, ranging from skin rejuvenation to heart and respiratory system benefits. For those looking to add a bit more boost, check out mushroom coffee, a blend of instant java and good for you ‘shrooms.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Taken straight in a shot or mellowed out with a cup of warm water, this astringent eye opener is sure to get your day going. While it might seem counter-intuitive, this particular vinegar is chock full of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, both of which help with gut health, digestion and hunger cravings. If the flavor is a bit off-putting, just think of it as kombucha’s more wallet friendly cousin.

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

Although it may have come from can of concentrate or a cardboard carton, there’s a reason that your mom served you a glass of orange juice every morning of your childhood. When freshly pressed from the fruit in front of your eyes at EVEN Hotels’ Cork & Kale Market and Bar, pulpy orange juice is a vitamin powerhouse packed with vitamins A and B, calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Not to mention, all of that pulp provides a healthy dose of beneficial fiber.

]]>Best Matcha Spots in Times Square Southhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/best-matcha-spots-in-times-square-south/
Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:37:16 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6797Matcha is a powder made from finely-ground tea leaves, so the drinker ingests all the nutrients instead of discarding them with the tea leaves. As a result, a single serving of matcha contains the same amount of nutrients as 10 cups of brewed green tea. Loaded with antioxidants called polyphenols, which are believed to prevent […]

Matcha is a powder made from finely-ground tea leaves, so the drinker ingests all the nutrients instead of discarding them with the tea leaves. As a result, a single serving of matcha contains the same amount of nutrients as 10 cups of brewed green tea.

Loaded with antioxidants called polyphenols, which are believed to prevent cancer and counteract free radicals, green tea has also been found to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, boost metabolism, and reduce stress.

In recent years, matcha cafes have been popping up all over the world, including around the EVEN Hotel Times Square South. Here are five match spots to check out:

Straight from Japan

It doesn’t get more authentic than Ippodo Tea Company. The NYC location is an offshoot of the Kyoto, Japan-based company that has been offering matcha and other tea varieties for almost three centuries and opened in response to realizing most online tea orders were New York-based. Many visitors say walking into this spot is like being transported to Japan.

Keep it simple with a straight matcha or matcha latte, although the matcha slushy gets props for creativity. The matcha can be hand-whisked by baristas or you can receive instructions on how to combine the matcha yourself. Buy some of the high-quality matcha while you’re there to recreate the experience at home.

Matcha Latte, Anyone?

The three main offerings at Grace Street Cafe include honey matcha latte, jasmine matcha latte and matcha chai latte. Pair with their swoon-worthy dessert selections like matcha waffles, Korean donuts, beignets, and Hong Kong French toast made from brioche. If you’re in the mood for something different, try the rose petal milk tea. Although crowded and high on noise volume during peak hours, it’s worth a visit as one of the few places to score an iced matcha cocoa.

Homey Matcha Spot

One of the cuter spots on this list with a green and pink decor and vintage feel, Cha Cha Matcha on Broadway is less mobbed than its downtown spot. The menu varies with seasonal offerings, like a matcha-enhanced ginger turmeric drink and a “pink drink” of bee pollen plus matcha. Consume your matcha in dessert form, too, with the popular matcha soft serve ice cream and matcha banana bread.

Grab-and-Go Matcha

Both a purveyor of high-quality matcha green tea and a cafe with a signature beverage line, Chalait’s selections include more than most—like matcha hot chocolate, Chalait Arnold Palmer, matcha cappuccino, and a top grade shot. It’s a cozy spot, best for on-the-go sipping during busy times. The matcha latte, iced or hot, is a popular item and if desired, opt for the house-made almond milk sweetened with dates.

Ready for Instagram

Close by Grace Street is Cup & Cup, where the baristas are known to take Instagram-worthy artwork requests like a teddy bear or flower. Selections include a matcha bomb (matcha plus espresso), dirty matcha and green tea latte. Off the matcha path, the red velvet lattes are a hot bet, as well. Large with an abundance of available seating but slightly dark ambiance, cafe is cash-only and transforms into a restaurant at 4 p.m.

For more healthy drinks and eats, stop by EVEN Hotels’ Cork & Kale Market and Bar, which features a wide variety of menu items that are both freshly prepared and customizable according to dietary needs.

]]>How to Take the Work Out of Working Outhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/how-to-take-the-work-out-of-working-out/
Tue, 09 Jan 2018 20:19:37 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6791Traveling may help satisfy your sense of exploration (or help you connect with an important client), but it can disrupt your workout schedule. After all, when life get super-busy, usually something’s gotta give. What happens next? You find more excuses to skip that workout. You have a cold. Your knee hurts. You didn’t sleep well […]

Traveling may help satisfy your sense of exploration (or help you connect with an important client), but it can disrupt your workout schedule. After all, when life get super-busy, usually something’s gotta give.

What happens next? You find more excuses to skip that workout. You have a cold. Your knee hurts. You didn’t sleep well last night. You’re too stressed to even think about it.

“Work can get in the way of working out,” says Martin Bjergegaard, author of Winning Without Losing: 66 Strategies for Building a Wildly Successful Business While Living a Happy and Balanced Life. But we really can’t afford not to do it, he says, since exercise is “integral to sustained success in the workplace;” and really, integral to success in our everyday lives, too.

While you might come up with a million reasons not to work out, it’s better to focus on why you should. Exercise can help control weight, keep your mind more clear and alert, increase your energy, reduce stress and increase your chances of living longer, among a host of other benefits.

Here are some surefire ways to bust out of excuse mode and burst back into workout mode:

Excuse: I Don’t Have Time

Working out doesn’t have to take up a huge chunk of time, says Bjergegaard. “Some exercise is always better than none, and you can squeeze in fitness wherever you are.”

One way is to use your own body weight to strength train, says fitness expert Joan Pagano. “Things like chair squats and wall push-ups are very efficient exercises that work multiple muscle groups, and can be done virtually anywhere,” she says.

When you stay at an EVEN Hotel, you can get a quick workout, without even leaving your guest room, by rolling out the provided yoga mat and tuning into some in-room videos. It’s like having your own personal trainer, and you save time, too.

And remember: You don’t need a lot of time for exercise to be beneficial. Studies show that just 10 minutes of brisk walking is enough to boost your health.

Excuse: My Schedule is Too Unpredictable

Make an appointment with yourself to exercise, and put it on you calendar, as if it were a business meeting. “Note the time, place and what you’ll be doing,” says exercise physiologist and registered dietitian Samantha Heller. For instance, “6 a.m.; Monday; spin class.” If you put it on your schedule, like other appointments, you’ll be much more likely to do it.

Excuse: It’s Just Another Thing on My To-Do List

Change your mindset. Much of the “work” in a workout comes from our own perceptions of what we are doing. “Create a positive mindset by telling yourself things like, ‘I love how I feel after exercising,’ or ‘I’m so fortunate to honor my body and health by running today,'” Heller suggests.

Excuse: I’m Bored with My Workouts

You have your routine, but day after day turns it into a rinse, repeat cycle. If that’s all you ever do, boredom will ensue. Travel gives you the perfect opportunity to change things up. Check out local gyms, and enroll in one of their classes; many offer one-day or multi-day passes. Or, go out and take a walk or run – EVEN Hotels .

Excuse: I’m Too Tired

Sometimes it’s tough to muster the energy to work out after a long day of travel or meetings. “Overcoming inertia is often the hardest part of getting started,” Pagano says.

If you convince yourself to just give it five minutes, you will probably end up doing a complete workout. “In most cases, that provides the kick-start you need to keep going,” she says.

But if you do a high-intensity routine, try a more gentle workout like yoga or floor stretches, good for releasing tension from your muscles, relieving aches and pains and energizing your body.

Instead of reaching for a cup of Joe to stifle your yawns, seek out a stairway: Research published in the journal Physiology and Behaviorfound that a brief bout of stair-climbing beats coffee for its energizing effects.

Excuse: I’m Hungry

If you rely on coffee for an energy burst, you may want to reach for a glass of water, because you could be dehydrated after flying or back-to-back meetings. “Drink a glass of water, or eat a water-rich piece of fruit like watermelon or an apple,” says registered dietitian Amy Gorin.

To keep your energy buzzing throughout the day, don’t forget to bring snacks, according to registered dietitian Bonnie Taub-Dix. “I never leave home without some go-to snacks I can rely on. I usually pack a sandwich of almond butter on whole grain bread — it doesn’t need to be refrigerated and it’s a great source of protein, fiber and energy.”

]]>5 Great Coffee Shops for Working in Omahahttps://www.wellwellwell.com/5-great-coffee-shops-for-working-in-omaha/
Fri, 05 Jan 2018 16:13:42 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6784From bright, open spaces to versatile food options, Omaha’s coffee shops have all the details you need to be productive. Here are five great coffee shop options within a short walk, bus or bike ride from the EVEN Hotel Downtown Omaha: Culprit Coffee With a cozy atmosphere and wide-ranging food menu, Culprit Coffee is a downtown spot that’s perfect for […]

From bright, open spaces to versatile food options, Omaha’s coffee shops have all the details you need to be productive. Here are five great coffee shop options within a short walk, bus or bike ride from the EVEN Hotel Downtown Omaha:

Culprit Coffee

With a cozy atmosphere and wide-ranging food menu, Culprit Coffee is a downtown spot that’s perfect for the remote worker. The bright space, featuring shelves lined with framed photos and glassware, pops of color on the walls and lots of greenery, makes settling in for a long work day a piece of cake. Speaking of cake, the cafe’s specialty doughnuts, scones, beignets and other house-made sweet treats are worth a visit alone.

Special Perk:The sandwich’s a thing here, with options including gravlax on a pretzel bun, chicken salad with pesto and a turkey-Swiss cheese comb with bacon jam.

Muglife Coffee

For the java enthusiast who is looking for a funky vibe, Muglife Coffee is a curated spot coffee drinkers will love. Exposed brick walls and lots of greenery make this spot the perfect place to settle in for a long work session. Muglife uses beans sourced through Bodhi Leaf Coffee Traders for its menu ofclassic drinks and specialty brews like a velvety nitro brew. A range of pastries, from scones to pretzels, come from locally based Culprit Coffee and Blue Dot Confections.

Special Perk: The drink menu includes specialty items, like a shaken espresso and a full-bodied pour over.

Hardy Coffee Co.

Hardy Coffee Co. is an Omaha staple with several locations throughout the area. The downtown spot offers an expansive patio that’s perfect for taking in the scene or having a drink with a four-legged friend. The spacious interior has plenty of tables, making it a comfortable spot to stay for a serious work session. Along with house-roasted specialty coffees and a range of hot teas, this spot also serves some of the best cinnamon rolls in Omaha and healthy breakfast options like oatmeal and granola.

Special Perk: Hardy Coffee Co. is open until 10 p.m. daily, which is later than most other local shops.

Delice European Bakery & Cafe

Delice European Bakery & Cafe is known for its delicious pastries and signature coffee drinks. With plenty of windows and lots of tables, you can set up shop and watch the Midtown Crossing foot traffic throughout the day. The extensive food menu includes soups, salads, and savory brunch and lunch entrees like chicken pot pie, while desserts include macaroons, cream puffs and eclairs. Set up your computer near the fireplace, settle into a comfy chair, and enjoy one of the most comfortable offices in town — no passport necessary.

Special Perk: You can park in the next door Midtown Crossing parking garage for up to three hours for free.

Howlin Hounds Coffee

Howlin Hounds Coffee focuses as much on the customers experience as they do on their coffee. The airy space makes it conducive to being creative. The cafe also hosts local artists and various events in the space. Their coffee menu is varied, including classic drinks like macchiatos and creamy lattes, all the way to rich pour over brews, frothy macchiatos, and velvety French presses. Not a coffee drinker? Enjoy an Italian soda or a hot tea.

Special Perk: Rotating art and unique decor make this a spot where you can enjoy your surroundings as much as the coffee.

]]>4 Foolproof Ways to Squeeze More Joy Out Of Every Dayhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/4-foolproof-ways-to-squeeze-more-joy-out-of-every-day/
Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:27:51 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6778From best-selling books to mobile applications to real-world seminars, creating — and savoring — the moments of joy in our lives has become a popular topic. You may already feel happy with where you are in your personal life and career, but here are four ways to squeeze even more joy out of your day: […]

From best-selling books to mobile applications to real-world seminars, creating — and savoring — the moments of joy in our lives has become a popular topic.

You may already feel happy with where you are in your personal life and career, but here are four ways to squeeze even more joy out of your day:

Have a Solo Dance Party

Whether you had a long day of meetings, or just returned from a client dinner, express yourself in the privacy of your EVEN Hotels room by turning on your favorite tunes and getting your groove on.

According to a study in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, putting on your most heartfelt song will boost your joy better than calming classical music or the white noise of the television.

Savor a Mindful Moment

Loving-kindness meditation — a technique that uses specific phrases to cultivate benevolence for others and ourselves — has been shown to enhance positive feelings. There are many phrases you can use with so-called “metta” meditation. If you’re unfamiliar with the technique, you can consult a guided meditation from an app like Buddhify or Calm.

Roll out the yoga mat provided in your Even Hotels room, or use a seat or couch cushion, and send your positive energy to the world while strengthening it within yourself.

Indulge Your Senses

Aromatherapy can be a simple way to boost feelings of joy or wind down for a restful night. Massage therapist Joanna Gregory, owner of Essential Massage Therapy, in Springfield, Mo., suggests a combination of citrus and flower scents — including lemongrass, orange peel, ginger, evening primrose and tea tree oil — to stimulate the brain with happiness. You can place the blend on pulse points or put a few drops in your bath.

If you’re ready to relax, however, you can also use scents. To help unwind, try a bath oil or shower gel with lavender. Then put on your pajamas and sip a cup of chamomile tea while you lie in bed between eucalyptus-scented sheets. All those scents can have a calming effect on the body and mind.

Go to Bed Early

You probably feel better when you get a full eight hours of sleep. Set yourself up for your best night of sleep ever and top off your great day by practicing good sleep hygiene. Put away your phone, and turn off the television, so your brain can start to power down.

For a great night’s sleep, the American Sleep Association also recommends saving your workout for the morning (not right before bed) and keeping the room as dark as possible.

Follow all these steps and you might just carry your joy into the next day — or the whole week.

]]>5 Ways to Balance Work/Life During the Holiday Seasonhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/5-ways-to-balance-worklife-during-the-holiday-season/
Sun, 24 Dec 2017 15:27:28 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6771Don’t let the holidays make you holi-crazed. When you face work deadlines, family pressures, presents to buy and parties to plan and attend, it can feel like there’s too much to do and no way to get it all done. But it’s possible to have a holiday season that leaves you feeling healthy, happy and […]

When you face work deadlines, family pressures, presents to buy and parties to plan and attend, it can feel like there’s too much to do and no way to get it all done. But it’s possible to have a holiday season that leaves you feeling healthy, happy and grateful, rather than tired, stressed and overwhelmed:

1. Set Your Priorities

The holiday season can pull you in many directions. Identify what you care most about and what you can skip. “You cannot participate in everything. We indirectly put more pressure on ourselves” when we try to do otherwise, says Jenn Watterman Moore, a small business consultant and CEO of In Purpose On Purpose.

Similarly, make sure the work-life balance is truly balanced. “Often times, we tend to provide more time to work than our families,” Moore says. “It’s important that your family doesn’t feel neglected.”

At work, decide what must get done now and what can wait. “Can you set aside some of the less urgent work until after the holidays, and plan to be more present at key times,” asks Michelle Cederberg, a speaker, coach and consultant and author of Energy Now! Small Steps to an Energetic Life. “Sometimes we create an unnecessary sense of urgency with our work, when really, much of it could wait a day or two so you can enjoy holiday time with loved ones.”

2. Know Yourself

Some people can send out hundreds of holiday cards and bake dozens of cookies for an office party. Others post a festive greeting on social media and tote a bottle of wine to every gathering. Determine what works best for you and don’t compare yourself to anyone else.

“If you want to be merry, be realistic about what balance means in your life and what choices you need to make to achieve it,” says Maura Thomas, founder of RegainYourTime and author of Work Without Walls: An Executive’s Guide to Attention Management, Productivity, and the Future of Work.

3. Meet Work Goals, Then Enjoy

Be realistic about work tasks around the busy season. “The key to balance isn’t necessarily some specific split between work and play,” says Thomas. “It’s about coming out of denial about whether the schedule you’ve chosen for yourself is working. Do you feel balanced or do you feel stressed out?” she notes.

Similarly, allow yourself to stop working to fully enjoy the season. “Balance your time through proper scheduling,” says Joanna Douglas, owner of Clean Affinity Cleaning Service in Portland, Oregon. “During the holidays, I’ll make sure that I get everything done before I go home, so when I get home, I spend time with my family. This makes it so much easier for me to adjust when I get back to work.”

4. Stay Committed to Your Health

Modify your healthy lifestyle goals to fit the season. For example, you might not maintain a weight loss, but you can try to minimize gain. “Chances are you’ll find yourself in front of multiple buffets this holiday season, but portion control is paramount through the holidays,” says Marcello Pedalino, a fitness trainer and speaker and the author of Celebrate Life.

To manage your appetite, drink water and eat salad first, enjoying the company around you and consuming food slowly. Try a portion of protein and vegetables and ask yourself if you are even hungry for dessert. “Moderation is key,” he says. “If your regular daily nutrition is on point, a few desserts over the holidays won’t hurt.”

5. Sustain Your Mind, Body While Traveling

Staying with family might increase your holiday stress, and work travel during the holiday season might be taxing. Ease the experience with the wellness amenities available at EVEN Hotels. With bamboo sheets, in-room yoga mats, the Athletic Studio gym and the Cork & Kale Market & Bar, the hotel offers elements that make it easier to maintain your health goals on the road.

6. Find Your Zen

Stay calm and collected by trying some natural stress relief methods. These can include simple meditation — sitting by yourself, putting in your earbuds and listening to music you find soothing or just letting your mind focus on a calming phrase, such as “I feel at peace.” Or simply take a walk outside, especially in nature — another proven way to reduce your stress.

]]>6 Ways to Manage Stress During the Holidayshttps://www.wellwellwell.com/6-ways-to-manage-stress-during-the-holidays/
Thu, 07 Dec 2017 16:33:27 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6765Whether you’re sticking close to home or traveling for the holidays to visit family, you may be feeling equal parts joyful — and stressed. Recognizing the potential for stress during this busy time of the year is a first step towards managing it and actually enjoying the season. Here are six tips to help you […]

Whether you’re sticking close to home or traveling for the holidays to visit family, you may be feeling equal parts joyful — and stressed. Recognizing the potential for stress during this busy time of the year is a first step towards managing it and actually enjoying the season. Here are six tips to help you cope:

Make a List

There’s a reason Santa’s checking his twice—and that’s because he doesn’t want to forget anyone. Neither do you. A report in Psychology Today says storing all those details like family members’ clothing size or connecting flights is an energy suck and a waste of brain power. Rather than commit so much to memory, make multiple lists for everything from holiday gifts to menu to travel.

Practice Mindfulness

Whether it’s your spiritual practice, traditions or family, being mindful helps you feel less frazzled. “It is hard to stop and smell the roses at any time of year, and it is especially easy to get caught up in the commercial version of what the holiday season means today,” Jennifer Wolkin writes in Mindful. Instead, take a moment — or several — to reflect on what really matters. Hint: it’s not the perfect pie crust.

Create a Haven

If you’re staying at a hotel during holiday travel, you can create your own refuge at EVEN Hotels, which feature amenities like an in-room yoga mat, group classes at the Athletic Studio and healthy eats at the Cork & Kale Market & Bar. Your stress level will likely drop if you incorporate a good night’s sleep, healthy foods and exercise into your holiday routine.

Be Grateful

Gratitude serves to balance the scales of stress when you consider how much you have to be thankful for, even things that you’re glad only happen once a year. Go ahead and let yourself feel grateful for cranky Uncle Bill and his funny stories at the holiday gathering — or your grandmother’s Jell-O mold. It’s the little things that make your holiday special.

Time Your Flights Right

It’s simple to do a search for your flight number before booking and check the statistics on that flight’s delays and cancellations. Try to choose a flight that doesn’t have a high percentage of delays, especially if you’re traveling with children.

Treat Yourself Well

Savvy parents know to save few new toys for their toddler for a long flight. It works for grown-ups, too. Save something special for you to savor during the holidays, whether you’re sticking close to home or hitting the road — a book you haven’t had time to read, a favorite snack or the latest episodes of your favorite podcast.

]]>Best Products to Get the Business Traveler in Your Lifehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/best-products-to-get-the-business-traveler-in-your-life/
Mon, 04 Dec 2017 20:43:19 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6759When gift-giving season rolls around, what do you give the person who’s always on the go for work? Even for the most road-tested business traveler, there’s a perfect accessory out there, just waiting to make their a life a little easier in the air and away from home. Here are six gift ideas to upgrade […]

When gift-giving season rolls around, what do you give the person who’s always on the go for work? Even for the most road-tested business traveler, there’s a perfect accessory out there, just waiting to make their a life a little easier in the air and away from home. Here are six gift ideas to upgrade your favorite jetsetter’s life to a greater level of comfort and joy:

Bluesmart Carry-On Bag

The Bluesmart line of tech-enabled luggage made quite a splash with its first edition, and now has released the improved Series 2 collection. In particular, its 22-inch Cabin model offers the ultimate in carry-on conveniences, like a built-in supercharger, location tracker and specs designed to fit any overhead bin. The bags come in shades of silver, charcoal grey or blue.

Bose Quiet Control 30 Wireless Earphones

Brought to you by the same brand responsible for the popular Quiet Comfort noise-canceling over-ear headphones,these wireless earphones offer noise reduction, clear calls and music streaming with a sleek design. Users can control everything via the Bose Connect application, switching easily between devices and handling everything on-screen. Fantastic for keeping things hands-free on long commutes and while running through airports, it’s a tech accessory coveted by many a frequent traveler.

S’Well Bottle

For a simple gift that delivers both style and substance, look no further than the S’Well bottle, available in a broad array of colors and finishes. Made of insulated, non-toxic stainless steel, the bottles come in nine ounce, 17 ounce and 25 ounce varieties, they keep hot beverages hot for 12 hours and cold beverages cold for a full 24 hours. With well over 100 styles ranging from stone, wood and floral to bright metallics and bold patterns, there’s sure to be something to suit any traveler’s tastes and every gift givers budget—prices start at $25.

eBags Packing Cubes

For those looking to up their suitcase game and keep everything separated, wrinkle-free and easy to find, packing cubes can be just the thing. In particular, eBags packing cubes give each category of clothes its own individual cubbie, preventing a bag’s contents from shifting in flight. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, sold both individually and in sets, they can be mixed and matched to fit any traveler’s needs.

Fancii Cool Mist Personal Mini-Humidifier

Ask anyone who’s ever had their skin, hair and even sleep frazzled by too-dry air what little luxury they’d love to tote with them, and most would say a humidifier. Luckily, the Fancii Cool Mist personal humidifier is tiny, portable and powerful, and all it takes to make it work is a USB cord (or three AA batteries) and a bottle of water. With automatic shutoff after two, four, six or eight hours, it can ensure a deeper sleep, clear up a dry throat and work wonders for a traveler’s appearance, too.

RAVPower 2-Port iSmart Hub Data Transfer Power Bank

For the ultimate charge, consider giving your road warrior the gift of double-device superpowers. Through its two ports that work simultaneously without draining each other’s output, the RAVPower iSmart Hub Data Transfer Power Bank can charge a MacBook in the same amount of time as a wall outlet. Plus, one charge can power an iPhone up to seven times, a Galaxy phone up to five times and a small tablet twice. It transfers data, too, all without fear of overheating or short-circuiting.

Wherever your loved ones’ travels may take them, they will benefit from staying in a wellness-focused hotel with guests’ comfort and health in mind. EVEN Hotels are known for amenities like soft bamboo sheets, spa-inspired bathrooms, in-room yoga mats and fitness videos, cork-floored workout studios and health-conscious cafes offering delicious, freshly-prepared meals onsite.

]]>Best Airplane Accessories for Long Flightshttps://www.wellwellwell.com/best-airplane-accessories-for-long-flights/
Fri, 24 Nov 2017 20:33:31 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6751Long-haul travel can take its toll on the human body, from dehydrating and depriving it of sleep to wreaking havoc on neck muscles after sleeping in uncomfortable positions and cramped conditions. However, it’s possible to enjoy some comfort on an overnight or overseas plane trip, given the right accessories. Anyone who’s ever emerged bright-eyed and […]

Long-haul travel can take its toll on the human body, from dehydrating and depriving it of sleep to wreaking havoc on neck muscles after sleeping in uncomfortable positions and cramped conditions. However, it’s possible to enjoy some comfort on an overnight or overseas plane trip, given the right accessories. Anyone who’s ever emerged bright-eyed and bushy-tailed from a long flight clearly knows some secrets. Here are accessories can take advantage of all for yourself.

Kiss Neck Cramps Goodbye

Since finding a comfortable sleeping position on a plane is like the Rubiks cube of human existence, the designers of the Trtl travel pillow decided to take the pressure off the traveler and do the work for you. Named after the way you can tuck your head into it like a turtle into its shell, the Trtl has a strong support system inside that holds your head up and lets you gently recline your face to the front, back or side. With thousands of enthusiastic user reviews on popular shopping sites worldwide, it’s a good bet to solve an age-old problem.

Take Charge of Your Temperature

Blankets in general may be a dime a dozen, but the Cocoon CoolMax Blanket packs a multi-purpose punch: It’s lightweight but warm, roomy but packs up small, and is made of a super-soft, breathable material that wicks away moisture in case of night sweats or an airplane beverage spill. Once you reach your destination, you can also machine washa and tumble dry. Easily folded and packed into a carry-on bag or purse, the blanket can be tucked down from its 4’x6′ dimensions into a bundle the size of a paperback book.

Get Some Shut-Eye

Made of smooth, soft mulberry silk, the Alaska Bear sleep mask is a favorite of frequent travelers who need to block out the light from fellow passengers’ phone screens and overhead lamps. Graciously sized, it offers a full blackout experience while its natural fibers protect eyes from dry airplane air. What’s more, the adjuster on its head strap is located in the back, allowing you to rest your face on its side without stabbing yourself in the temples.

Enjoy Peace and Quiet

One of the most popular pairs of noise-canceling headphones is the Bose Quiet Comfort model, famous for its stellar construction, reliable bluetooth capability and ability to legitimately block out unwanted sound. The cloudlike over-ear pads are indeed quite comfortable, and with the noise cancellation feature turned on with a favorite bedtime playlist, sleep podcast or white noise application on your phone, it’s a one-way ticket to dreamland.

Freshen Up

Few people step off an eight-hour (or longer) flight feeling fresh as a daisy, but a small swig of mouthwash can go a long way toward reviving the mind and showing courtesy to those around you. Smart Mouth Travel Packs offer a convenient way to keep your breath fresh while on a long flight; the flat, single-use packs are TSA-approved and easily tucked into a pocket or shoulder bag. For less than a dollar per pack, a quick in-flight swish can mean the difference between a sad state of foggy-brained death breath and a mint-fueled feeling of total resuscitation.

Enjoy a Smooth Landing

No matter where your travels take you or how long your flight may have been, it’s always nice to ease into a well-appointed hotel filled with perks. EVEN Hotels welcome guests with infused water, natural eucalyptus fiber bedding, spa-inspired bathrooms, an in-room yoga mat, and freshly-prepared, health-minded meals at the Cork & Kale Market Cafe. Book your stay today and prepare to be comforted, inspired and — above all — well-rested.

]]>Great New Guilt-Free Ways to Recreate Classic Thanksgiving Disheshttps://www.wellwellwell.com/great-new-guilt-free-ways-to-recreate-classic-thanksgiving-dishes/
Mon, 20 Nov 2017 15:15:07 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6746Craving all the indulgence of a Thanksgiving meal without the high-calorie tag attached to it? You can cut down on fat without sacrificing flavor. Whether you want to plan a festive holiday spread that doesn’t leave a sluggish feel or to accommodate guests with specific dietary needs, here are some ways to lighten the meal […]

Craving all the indulgence of a Thanksgiving meal without the high-calorie tag attached to it? You can cut down on fat without sacrificing flavor. Whether you want to plan a festive holiday spread that doesn’t leave a sluggish feel or to accommodate guests with specific dietary needs, here are some ways to lighten the meal from appetizers through dessert:

Appetizers: Dip with No Chips

On the starter front, rely on seafood and vegetables to fill the void. For example, cook cleaned and peeled shrimp until done. Marinate overnight in a dish with a heavy drizzle of olive oil and chopped fresh herbs like chives and rosemary. Serve on wooden skewers. Make a ranch-inspired dip with Greek yogurt, a touch of low-fat mayonnaise, garlic powder, fresh parsley, and fresh chives. Add buttermilk to thin out. Display in a bowl on a platter fitted around blanched vegetables like green beans, broccoli, cauliflower and more.

Main Dishes: Beyond the Turkey

As a main dish alternative, a whole turkey breast has a quicker cooking stint in the oven and less fat than the dark meat pieces on a whole turkey. Looking for a vegetarian centerpiece? Scoop seeds from a three-pound pumpkin. Layer the inside with croutons and various cheeses like Gruyere and herbed goat. Bake until the pumpkin is fork-tender, about two-and-a-half hours. For a smaller vessel and shorter cooking time, use a few acorn squashes.

Everyone adores a pot pie and one filled to the rim with vegetables is no exception. Top with a few phyllo dough layers for a lighter twist. The meaty mushroom can also handle being the star of the show, like stuffed portobello mushrooms or a risotto with spinach and shiitake mushrooms.

Side Dishes: New Twists on Old Favorites

Try a lighter touch with traditional side dishes, such as a green bean casserole without all the calories: Roast green beans until crinkly. Thinly slice a few onions and saute on medium heat until caramelized, about 1 hour. Serve green beans topped with the onion goodness.

Roasted Brussels sprouts with just a hint of crumbled crisp bacon are always a hit. Creamed greens like kale or Swiss chard can take a lighter turn with fat-free cream cheese and skim milk. Sliced tomatoes sprinkled with Parmesan, Italian seasoning and panko breadcrumbs and quickly broiled make an easy and bright side dish.

A bread-based stuffing can be swapped out for grains, like quinoa and butternut squash stuffing or a wild rice and dried fruit one. Substitute mashed cauliflower or celery root for mashed potatoes; lighten up with fat-free buttermilk. Nix the marshmallow topping on a sweet potato casserole, and instead top with maple syrup-glazed pecans for sweetness and a crunch factor.

Desserts: Treats without the Guilt

For a walk on the lighter side of dessert, skip the pie in favor of fruit-based treats like poached pears stuffed with a dot of mascarpone cheese and maple syrup. Or go with airy pavlovas — puffy meringues filled with mixed berries or other fruit. Another dessert that relies on the low-calorie egg white is angel food cake. Create a winter take on shortcake with a compote of pears or figs. Top on cake slices with a small dollop of whipped cream or sour cream.

With these healthy but still scrumptious twists on Thanksgiving favorites, the holiday will be both delicious — and light.

]]>Find the Locals: 7 Reasons to Visit a Farmers’ Markethttps://www.wellwellwell.com/find-the-locals-7-reasons-to-visit-a-farmers-market/
Fri, 10 Nov 2017 20:59:06 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6741Exploring a town’s farmers’ market not only feeds your stomach, but also provides opportunities to dive into the community you are visiting. “They serve as a hub for getting out and enjoying and engaging in your community,” says Kerry Glendening, the community coordinator for LocalHarvest, a nationwide organization that provides tools to help small farmers thrive […]

Exploring a town’s farmers’ market not only feeds your stomach, but also provides opportunities to dive into the community you are visiting. “They serve as a hub for getting out and enjoying and engaging in your community,” says Kerry Glendening, the community coordinator for LocalHarvest, a nationwide organization that provides tools to help small farmers thrive by connecting communities with their local growers. “You can accomplish food shopping and socializing in one visit.”

Almost every major city — and plenty of smaller towns — hold farmers’ markets throughout warmer weather months. Most run from April to October, but you can find some year-round operations, including in New York City and two in Brooklyn: Brooklyn Borough Hall and Fort Greene Park.

Here are tips from Glendening on how to best navigate a market and what you can find beyond good eats. Don’t forget to bring reusable bag or backpack to load up on produce, quick snacks and gifts to take home:

Meet Your Local Farmer

One of the best ways to engage at the farmers’ market is to talk to the vendors. Ask them what they think is best that week, and if there’s a dish they love to prepare with a particular item. If you’re packing a picnic lunch, look for fresh fruits and veggies that store well for a few hours, like carrots and radishes, or apples, peaches or strawberries.

Stop for Lunch

If you are traveling with a large group, head to a market so that everyone can make their own food choices and can try a variety of local flavors. Often, you’ll find fresh bread, cheese and charcuterie to make a full meal. “Many farmers’ markets include prepared food vendors and seating areas,” Glendening says. “Walk around, check everything out, decide what you like best and settle in.”

Buy a Local Souvenir

Farmers’ markets typically don’t just sell food. You’ll find jewelry, art, handmade soaps and other beauty products, along with jars of salsa, jam and other tasty snacks that are easy to pack (think homemade quinoa crackers or fresh roasted coffee). Plus, many of the specialty foods you’ll find at a market are unique to the local growing region, which makes them ideal gifts for friends and family back home.

Learn About the Community

A farmers’ market offers another way to get to know a community and its residents. “Markets are often located in areas are good for window-shopping and browsing, or if the market is off the beaten path, you might see a part of town you never would have found otherwise,” Glendening says.

Connect with New People

If you are visiting a new town alone — or perhaps need a break from a conference or meetings — browsing around a farmers’ market is an ideal solo activity, because you can peruse at your own pace and grab a quick bite to eat while enjoying fresh air. Markets are easy places to chat with people and a great way to figure out what is happening around town later that night. “Often farmers’ markets feature music, which offers an opportunity to hang out and potentially meet the locals,” Glendening says.

Shop Local and Fresh

Supporting local companies whenever you have that option is ideal for the community’s economy and when it comes to food, it’s a win-win for both parties. “By eating locally grown food, you’re getting the freshest, most seasonal produce out there,” Glendening says. For you, that means knowing exactly where that squash or fair-trade coffee originated.

Get Recommendations

You’ll often find vendors that represent local restaurants or brick-and-mortar businesses. See what spread is available for lunch as a precursor to dinner. Alternatively, ask the vendors to recommend their favorite foodie spots in town. If you are unable to make it to a market, but still are craving fresh, healthy food, stop by the Cork & Kale Market and Bar at EVEN Hotels for healthy meals and grab ‘n’ go snacks.

]]>Why Autumn Is the Best Season to Get Outdoorshttps://www.wellwellwell.com/why-autumn-is-the-best-season-to-get-outdoors/
Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:44:46 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6736Fall might be seen as a transition season, but it shouldn’t be overlooked by outdoor enthusiasts. With fewer crowds, cooler temperatures and vibrant leaves, it’s a great time to get outdoors. With the right gear, you can adapt these activities to extend your summertime adventures well into the chillier months. Take a Hike Have you […]

Fall might be seen as a transition season, but it shouldn’t be overlooked by outdoor enthusiasts. With fewer crowds, cooler temperatures and vibrant leaves, it’s a great time to get outdoors.

With the right gear, you can adapt these activities to extend your summertime adventures well into the chillier months.

Take a Hike

Have you looked outside lately? The leaves are changing and fast. Fall is the perfect time to have a colorful destination in mind for your hike. Whether it’s aspens, maples, oaks or cottonwoods, the change of seasons has created a forest with a healthy mix of orange, yellow, and red tie-die leaves. Lace up your shoes, grab your camera and take a stroll.

Set a New Pace with Your Runs

On hot summer days, you can literally feel the path’s heat radiating up through your body, making for one exhausting run. Hit the trails in autumn when the temperatures begin to drop, the humidity lessens, and your shoes won’t be as muddy as monsoon season or as dry and dusty as high summer.

Visit a National Park

Summer is the busiest time for national parks (which means the highest prices on lodging, too). Avoid that peak period, and instead check out the nation’s top locations during September, October and November. Plus, the fall is often rutting time for various animals, like elk, moose, antelope and bison, so keep your eyes open and your distance far.

Grab your Fly Rod

For some of the best fly fishing, head out in September and October when fish are getting quite hungry before the winter months. The brown trout abound in rivers, you’ll find fewer bugs buzzing around your face, and afterward, you can stop at a local brewery for a fresh pumpkin ale.

Camp Out

You might have to dig out your cold weather camping gear, but getting your tent out in the off-season is ideal for those looking for the perfect, uncrowded spot and cozy nights by the campfire.

]]>New York City (Times Square) Neighborhood Guidehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/new-york-city-times-square-neighborhood-guide/
Tue, 31 Oct 2017 13:38:48 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6731The wellness-focused EVEN Hotel Times Square South in New York City offers a calming break from the hubbub of one of Manhattan’s most iconic and busy locations. Located near the theater district and Madison Square Garden, the hotel provides opportunities to work out in the Athletic Studio, as well as on the in-room yoga mat and stability […]

The wellness-focused EVEN Hotel Times Square South in New York City offers a calming break from the hubbub of one of Manhattan’s most iconic and busy locations. Located near the theater district and Madison Square Garden, the hotel provides opportunities to work out in the Athletic Studio, as well as on the in-room yoga mat and stability ball, and to enjoy healthy bites, snacks and smoothies at Cork & Kale Market and Bar. But for when you do want to get out and enjoy the hustle and bustle of New York City, there’s also plenty for the health-conscious traveler to do near the hotel:

Great Gyms

David Barton is a legend in the fitness world, known for his sleek nightclub-esque gyms. TMPL, his 40,000-square-foot mural-adorned facility on the edge of Times Square, offers state-of-the-art equipment, a sauna, steam room and giant salt water pool and more than 100 classes a week. Pro tip: If you book the free 30-minute tour, you can often get a free day to try out the gym.

Another popular option is Orangetheory. The idea behind this hip gym’s one-hour circuit training is that exercising above an 84 percent maximum heart rate for 12 to 20 minutes can yield big results. A mix of treadmill, rowing machines and strength training makes sure you never get bored.

Must-Try Classes

Om Factory offers some unique fitness experiences, including AcroYoga, which combines acrobatics with yoga, and an aerial circus class, where you’ll twist and flip while dangling from colorful silks.

Of course, if you’d like a more traditional gym — but with state-of-the-art equipment — New York Sports Club is always a crowd pleaser, especially with TVs built right into the treadmills and a wide array of classes from martial arts to Tone House where you train against each other in teams.

Another healthy favorite is The Little Beet, whose seasonally changing menu caters to almost any diet, from gluten-free to vegan. Some delicious musts: the Yuzu-maple dressed-beets and lentils, as well as the vegetarian mushroom poke bowl.

Amazing Trails

Staying in Times Square means you can walk about 30 minutes to Manhattan’s best known — and biggest — outdoor attraction: Central Park. Head to Broadway and 42nd to stroll through the buskers and feel the true energy of the neighborhood. Then get away from the crowds by heading to Fifth Avenue and walking north. Make sure to wear proper footwear, as near the park entrance at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street you can climb up a giant hill for an aerial view.

Another great walk is heading to The High Line,an abandoned elevated railway-turned-public park. From Even Hotel Times Square South, head west toward Eleventh Avenue and then south until you come to a park entrance at 34th Street. Walk up the ramp to admire gardens that show you the natural flora that grew before the railway was landscaped.

The High Line runs for 1.45 miles, with gorgeous gardens, creative sculptures and inspiring views along the way. Don’t miss seeing the Statue of Liberty from the park’s Tenth Avenue Square, or a prime vista of the Empire State Buildingfrom within the High Line’s Chelsea Grasslands between West 18th and West 20th Streets.

]]>Brooklyn Neighborhood Guidehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/brooklyn-neighborhood-guide/
Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:54:52 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6726Welcome to Brooklyn, N.Y., where the EVEN Hotels Brooklyn makes it easy to maintain your healthy lifestyle. Enjoy the hotel’s Athletic Studio, in-room fitness zones for private workouts, and Cork & Kale Market and Bar, where it’s easy and delicious to eat clean. Even Hotel Brooklyn is also near major attractions, like the Barclay Center, and just […]

Welcome to Brooklyn, N.Y., where the EVEN Hotels Brooklyn makes it easy to maintain your healthy lifestyle. Enjoy the hotel’s Athletic Studio, in-room fitness zones for private workouts, and Cork & Kale Market and Bar, where it’s easy and delicious to eat clean. Even Hotel Brooklyn is also near major attractions, like the Barclay Center, and just a short hop from the landmark Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan. Here are some favorite places to work out, take a class, eat well and explore on foot.

Great Gyms

As you walk into the homey Yogasana Center studio off busy Third Avenue, your body and mind will immediately unwind, preparing you for the relaxing experience ahead. The teachers here are well-versed in different schools of yoga but draw in particular from Iyengar, which focuses on posture and alignment. Small classes, individual attention, and creative uses of props make this locale special.

A wonderland of climbing walls, Brooklyn Boulders offers some 22,000 square-feet of gravity-defying exploration, whether you want to climb on your own or take a class. You’ll find bouldering and auto belay areas here, as well as cardio and strength equipment, Ping-Pong tables, and a co-working area, as well as a passionate community. In other words, you may never want to leave.

Must-Try Classes

Have you always wanted to learn how to make dumplings? Weave a tapestry? Learn sign language? Brooklyn Brainery offers eclectic classes from experts in all sorts of fields, and the lineup changes every month to keep things interesting (although you can look forward to repeats of the most popular offerings). You’ll also find one-off evenings of a few hours where you can master Australian desserts or studying clouds, as well as one- to two-week offerings.

Quirky shop Twig has mastered the art of creating gorgeous terrariums, glass globes and jars with “little green worlds” inside. Think moss, succulents, cacti and tiny figurines of campers, superheroes, and even the famous David sculpture. Learn to make your own in one of the shop’s many one-hour workshops, usually held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Healthy Eats

Vegetarians and vegans will love the wide selection of plant-focused options at LuAnn’s Wild Ginger — all with an Asian fusion theme. The menu includes standards like miso soup, pineapple fried rice and jap-chae (sweet potato noodles with vegetables), as well as unique dishes like watercress and buckwheat noodles with peanut dressing, and mango soy protein with mixed veggies and brown rice. Finish with a cup of green tea, and you’ll feel as light and clean as your meal.

Taiki delivers big sushi flavors in a small locale. Sit at the bar and watch chef-owner Taiki lovingly prepare each piece of sushi, then present it to you with heartfelt enthusiasm. Consider doing the omakase menu, which lets the chef choose the freshest cuts for you. Beyond raw fish, you’ll also find a variety of salads and vegetables, like eggplant with soy dashi and tofu sautéed with mushrooms and seaweed.

Amazing Trails

Make an afternoon or a whole day out of the outdoor beauty of the 526-acre Prospect Park in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood. You’ll find trails, wide-open green space (a rarity in New York City) and even a roller skating rink if you’re feeling playful. If you’re traveling with your pup, visit before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m. for off-leash hours and a world of Brooklyn dogs. Regardless of when you visit, be sure to pack a picnic and take a much-deserved break after exploring the trails.

Although some might not consider the Brooklyn Heights Promenade a proper trail, the walkway provides a scenic route for after-dinner strolls and urban-style treks. On your way to the promenade, admire the well-kept brownstones. Once there, take in stunning views of the New York Harbor and Lower Manhattan’s skyline, as seen in movies like Annie Hall and Moonstruck.

]]>Rockville Neighborhood Guidehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/rockville-neighborhood-guide/
Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:37:40 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6719Fittingly, many prime wellness attractions neighbor the EVEN Hotel Rockville-Washington DC Area, which offers a menu of tools to stay fit, including in-room yoga mats, a 24-hour gym and healthy food options in the Cork & Kale Cafe. When you’re ready to explore the area, here are a host of other spots to check out: Great […]

Fittingly, many prime wellness attractions neighbor the EVEN Hotel Rockville-Washington DC Area, which offers a menu of tools to stay fit, including in-room yoga mats, a 24-hour gym and healthy food options in the Cork & Kale Cafe. When you’re ready to explore the area, here are a host of other spots to check out:

Great Gyms

Most Rockville gyms are outlets of national or regional proprietors, including North Bethesda Sport & Health, a 32,000-square-foot, two-story behemoth just south of the hotel in the recently developed Pike & Rose complex. Inside, options include a cycle studio, free weights and more than 100 pieces of cardio equipment. There’s also rooftop space, where some of the gym’s 110 weekly classes take place outside. A $20 guest pass includes admission to a class.

Also within walking distance: Gold’s Gym in Wintergreen Plaza. It’s well-stocked with free weights, resistance machines and cardio equipment. Or have a sweat in the steam room or sauna. A $15 day pass also includes access to group exercise classes and the cycle studio.

For those on a tighter schedule and/or looking for a higher energy workout, book Lumi Fit‘s Jump N Pump. It involves trampolines and dumbbells in the service of metabolic conditioning and body sculpting. Like all of Lumi Fit’s classes, it only takes 30 minutes. And the walk from the hotel is just five minutes. Bonus: A $10 day pass includes access to unlimited classes for that day.

Healthy Eats

Silver Diner, the flagship location of a Rockville-based local chain of restaurants, sources ingredients from nearby farms in keeping with co-founder and Executive Chef Ype Von Hengst’s desire to serve healthy versions of diner classics. The 16-page menu, which includes takes on burgers (bison), meatballs (lamb) and local fave, crabcakes, uses icons to note dishes that are gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and low in fat and cholesterol. Entrees under 600 calories are also available.

Find all the tasty staples of Japanese cuisine at Temari. The mom-and-pop restaurant serves sushi, ramen and assorted fish dishes, and receives high praise from locals. Note: It’s small. During prime dining hours, getting seated might take a while.

Amazing Trails

Walkers, runners, bikers and their canine friends are welcome on Rock Creek Trail, a 14.5-mile paved path that roughly parallels winding Rock Creek and extends from the Washington, D.C. border to just north of Rockville. Access the shaded and mostly flat trail at multiple points in and near Rockville, the nearest with parking being a little over two miles away at Parklawn Local Park. Bike riders, find a Capital Bikeshare 1.6 miles north of the hotel, just west of Rockville Pike. Heading south, the trail connects with Rock Creek National Park in the District, making it a great option for an extended ride or for the long run of your marathon training.

Northbound, Rock Creek Trail reaches Lake Needwood, or you can veer off and connect to the Lakeside Trail, a 3.23-mile loop around Lake Bernard Frank, a half-paved, half-natural path that involves twice hopping along rocks to cross water. It’s not suitable for biking, but it is a more hilly, less trafficked option for walkers. To access the Lakeside Trail directly, it’s less than a five-mile drive from the hotel.

]]>Norwalk Neighborhood Guidehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/norwalk-neighborhood-guide/
Thu, 19 Oct 2017 19:40:49 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6714A stay at the EVEN Hotel Norwalk is a great way to prioritize your health, and focus on wellness, no matter what brings you to this quaint New England town. The EVEN Hotel Norwalk offers guests a wide variety of fitness-focused options including an onsite fitness center, in-room training programs, and a plenty of tasty but healthy […]

A stay at the EVEN Hotel Norwalk is a great way to prioritize your health, and focus on wellness, no matter what brings you to this quaint New England town.

The EVEN Hotel Norwalk offers guests a wide variety of fitness-focused options including an onsite fitness center, in-room training programs, and a plenty of tasty but healthy food options at the Cork & Kale Market and Bar.

Here are more great wellness-themed options in and around Norwalk:

Great Gyms

Renowned for its offbeat and cutting edge classes, Crunch Fitness offers everything from Zumba and Thai boxing to various boot camps. What sets this location apart from the rest is the cost. Membership starts at just $10 a month, and first time visitors can get a complimentary day pass.

Bright and sunny best Orangetheory Fitness. Inside you’ll find a supportive atmosphere focused on individual goals. The classes offered here are intense, and you will undoubtedly achieve the “EPOC” effect, which is excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, known by fitness experts as the “afterburn.”

Must-Try Classes

Torch calories and ride the endorphin wave at this incredibly high energy, heart pumping class JoyRide Cycling. Fear not if you’ve haven’t tried indoor cycling before — with the music pumping and the lights turned low, you’ll feel right at home in the saddle. Classes are complimentary for first-time riders.

If you’ve always wanted the body of a ballet dancer, you can’t miss taking a class at Pure Barre. This innovative studio uses traditional ballet moves, coupled with Pilates, to tone your arms, legs, abs and just about everything else.

For a different kind of workout experience, try one of the pole dancing, burlesque, or belly dancing classes at Work It! Dance and Fitness and defy gravity.

Healthy Eats

Pizza and clean eating are rarely used in the same sentence, but Savor Healthy Organic Pizza strives to bring a healthy twist to take out. Just a one-minute walk away from the Even Hotel, Savor dishes up organic, handmade pies with a wide variety of toppings, including herb-crusted shrimp and wild-caught salmon. Each pizza is made with a multi-grain crust, with gluten and dairy-free options available as well.

A staple in Norwalk for over 30 years, The Lime Restaurant offers something healthy for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Menu favorites include three different types of veggie burgers — tofu, black bean and a signature vegetable-nut burger — as well as a house-made soy-carrot loaf, chicken pitas and cheeseburgers.

Get a taste of the tropics at Fragrant Basil Juice Café, an organic, family-owned spot that offers a range of gluten-free options and items that cater to food allergies and sensitivities. Fragrant Basil serves over 35 different juice and smoothie combinations, as well as more substantial offerings, from healthy breakfast items to vegan soups, salads and sandwiches.

Amazing Trails

With over 225 acres to explore, Gallaher Mansion and Cranbury Park has something to offer almost everyone, whether you’re looking to stroll beautiful grounds or a more intense run. The park surrounding the 1930s era limestone mansion features open fields, wooded areas with meandering trails, a sculpture garden and a full, 18-hole disc golf course.

Situated high above the waterfront and near Interstate 95, Oyster Shell Park feels worlds away from the traffic. Pedestrian paths circle the perimeter and offer incredible views of the Norwalk River. There is also a short, nine-hole disc golf course, and several seasonal events are held at the park’s summit.

Still under development, Norwalk River Valley Trail will eventually offer 38 miles of trails for hikers, bikers, runners and walkers. When the trail reaches its final completion, it will connect Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk to Rogers Park in Danbury, passing through Wilton, Ridgefield and Redding along the way.

]]>New York City (Midtown East) Neighborhood Guidehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/new-york-city-midtown-east-neighborhood-guide/
Sat, 14 Oct 2017 17:10:16 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6709The bustling neighborhood of Midtown East is home to some of New York City’s most famous sites, including the United Nations Headquarters, Park Avenue and Grand Central Station. Health-conscious travelers can make EVEN Hotel New York-Midtown East their base. The property features a wealth of amenities in-room (yoga mats, stability balls and eucalyptus fiber bedding) and throughout […]

The bustling neighborhood of Midtown East is home to some of New York City’s most famous sites, including the United Nations Headquarters, Park Avenue and Grand Central Station.

Health-conscious travelers can make EVEN Hotel New York-Midtown East their base. The property features a wealth of amenities in-room (yoga mats, stability balls and eucalyptus fiber bedding) and throughout the hotel (a full gym and Cork & Kale Market and Bar) designed to promote wellness.

When you’re ready to leave the hotel, here are some great ideas for exploring your new neighborhood:

Great Gyms

For a full-body workout — followed by getting your full body worked on — CompleteBody 57th Street features cardio and weight-training equipment, plus classes ranging from barre (a ballet-inspired workout) to zumba to outdoor yoga (with a view). Add a touch of luxury to your routine with the saltwater pool — under a retractable roof — and a chill patio with lots of lounging options for catching rays. End the session with a free coffee or a treatment at the in-house spa.

Short on time? Inform Fitness takes a science-backed approach that allows users to work with a trainer to complete a high-intensity workout in just 20 minutes. The premise is that once you’ve thoroughly fatigued your muscles through slow repetition exercise, you’re done.

Must-Try Classes

For cardio fans, 305 Fitness offers an intense dance-inspired class also infuses sprints and sculpting moves. Don’t worry if you’re a newcomer: While the live DJ spins, your instructor will break down the moves. Another option is the studio’s 305 Yoga class, which infuses hot yoga with dance moves.

For a real challenge, try Tone House, touted by some as Manhattan’s toughest workout. The goal is get everyday people into training like athletes, via 60-minute, no-break extreme sessions. First-timers may want to opt for the TH 101 intro session to find out if it’s right for you.

Healthy Eats

Midtown East is home to numerous healthy restaurants that make it easy to maintain your gym progress and enjoy a tasty meal. Jams Restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as weekend brunch, offers seasonal American fare, such as grilled local trout and eggs baked with mushrooms and asparagus in a wood oven.

For a meal that’s as healthy as it is hip, Poketeria offers DIY poke (raw fish) bowls. Choose your base, proteins and toppings, or go with a signature bowl. The Omega-3 combines salmon, edamame, sweet onion, fried garlic and a sprinkling of bonito flakes, topped with housemade soy sauce.

Amazing Trails

You can check out the major sites of Midtown East via a brisk 30-minute walk. Start at Bryant Park,home to a full menu of active, often free activities, like juggling, yoga and petanque. Pop inside the adjacent New York Public Library— part museum, part literary santuary — before strolling east down 41st Street’s Library Way,looking down to enjoy the bronze sidewalk plaques showcasing inspiring literary quotes. When you get to Park Avenue look to your left to admire the gorgeous facade of Grand Central Terminal, then walk one block to 42nd Street for a view of the famed Chrysler Building.

Runners can head south down Second Avenue and east on 42nd Street to find yourself in front of the United Nations Headquarters. Then continue to the scenic East River. Run up FDR Drive— taking in views of Queens across the water — and jog up to the Queensboro Bridgeat 60th Street to run right into the emerging hipster enclave of Long Island City.

]]>Downtown Omaha Neighborhood Guidehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/downtown-omaha-neighborhood-guide/
Thu, 12 Oct 2017 16:37:14 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6704You’ll feel right at home in Omaha, Neb., which pairs big-city dining and cultural attractions with Midwestern-style, small-town hospitality. The EVEN Hotel Omaha Downtown gives you ready access to the Centurylink Convention center and other major attractions, and the ability to stick to your health and wellness routines. You can sip a green smoothie or custom-made salad […]

You’ll feel right at home in Omaha, Neb., which pairs big-city dining and cultural attractions with Midwestern-style, small-town hospitality.

The EVEN Hotel Omaha Downtown gives you ready access to the Centurylink Convention center and other major attractions, and the ability to stick to your health and wellness routines. You can sip a green smoothie or custom-made salad from the Cork & Kale Market and Bar, work out at the state-of-the-art, in-house Athletic Studio, and relish a sound sleep in your comfy, eco-friendly room.

Here’s a guide to gyms, fitness classes, healthy eating and some of the best trails — all within a short distance of the hotel:

Great Downtown Gyms

Pinnacle Fitness Club is the king of all gyms in downtown Omaha. Take classes from Barre to kick boxing, churn out laps on the indoor track or in the 25-yard pool, and unwind from your workout in the sauna and steam rooms. A one-day pass costs $6.

Not an Anytime Fitness member? No worries. Get a free, seven-day pass to the location on Jones Street right by Old Market, the historic district of downtown Omaha. Squeeze in your weight reps and cardio workout in your busy schedule — true to its name, the gym is open 24-7 making it possible for you to get in that early a.m. session.

Must-Try Fitness Classes

Pranam Yoga Shala studio offers a wide array of breath and alignment-based classes to work out the travel kinks. The studio is donation-based and features several special, free classes geared toward yoga rookies.

At Pinnacle Fitness Club, you can take a core strength program each Monday that incorporates body weight movements to target your core and sculpt your abdominals. This class will help you erase desk-job pain, improve posture and hone in on the area we often let slide when we travel — our core.

Healthy Eats

Kitchen Table is a must-visit lunch spot in downtown Omaha. With several farm-to-table vegetarian, vegan and healthy food options, this place rocks. If you’re a salad lover, try the Royal Market Grain, a combination of red cabbage, brown rice, sorghum, dukkah and apples, in a blue cheese vinaigrette.

If you have a sweet tooth or love a hearty sandwich on artisan bread, make Culprit Cafe your midday pit-stop. Savor a plate from their healthy breakfast menu, or pick up a sandwich made with in-house bread, such as the cured salmon with fried capers, red onion and greens on pretzel bread. Sample a green juice from the daily juice specials, or a glass of kombucha tea, with rotating flavors also made in-house, on draft.

Amazing Trails

The asphalt Omaha Riverfront Trail runs along the Missouri River, and features several beautiful river overlooks along the way. Whether you’re feeling a quick three-mile jaunt, or the full 20, it’s a prime location for biking, running or walking. Pick up the trail at the Heartland of America Park, in central downtown.

The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is a 3,000-foot walkway spanning the Missouri River that provides access to more than 150 miles of nature trails for hiking, biking and running. Don’t have a ton of time? The bridge’s path is worth it in river views alone.

]]>Health Coach or Life Coach: Which One Do You Need?https://www.wellwellwell.com/health-coach-or-life-coach-which-one-do-you-need/
Thu, 05 Oct 2017 17:07:50 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6696If you feel like you’re close to reaching the next level in your personal life or career — but don’t know how to get there — you probably could benefit from some coaching. Thanks to the web, you’re no longer limited to a college professor, a former boss or even the coach across town. You […]

If you feel like you’re close to reaching the next level in your personal life or career — but don’t know how to get there — you probably could benefit from some coaching.

Thanks to the web, you’re no longer limited to a college professor, a former boss or even the coach across town. You can partner with a coach anywhere in the world to help you create a sustainable plan to move forward. Narrowing down your choices may actually be the hardest part.

Finding the best fit starts with understanding what kind of coach you need. That often comes down to a decision between a health coach or a life coach. To help you start down the right coaching path, consider these three questions:

Is your issue skill-specific?

A specific problem, like figuring out how to break into a new industry or train for a half-marathon with a heavy travel schedule, makes it easier to know which coach to choose. Your life coach can help you with specific job or relationship skills, while a health coach is a better choice for exercise and nutrition plans.

Are you interested in changing your behaviors or mindset?

If you’ve got the skills but feel like your behaviors are the issue, you may want to seek out a health coach. Karen Katzenbach of Momentum Fitness views her role as a health coach as “creating healthy change that moves a client forward toward a happy, productive and connected life.” That means working on “goals, values and mindset,” to change your habits, she says.

Even if your goal is something unrelated to the gym, you may find your current state of wellness is the roadblock. “Physical confidence is a great entry to psychological and emotional confidence and these changes all support one another,” Katzenbach says. That confidence can translate into the push you need to take action.

However, if you believe your struggle is more about your current mindset, you might find a life coach the more appropriate choice. Madison Hedlund, life coach and speaker, describes her job as “being a mirror, listening, questioning and challenging clients to see the world in a new way.”

Working with a life coach may be the best way to re-write your mental scripts and forge a path ahead. “Without being questioned, our brains typically believe the stories handed to us from our history, so we rarely question our perceived limitations, our insecurities, or our beliefs,” she says.

What if you’re not sure about the source of your problems?

If you know that something isn’t quite right but aren’t sure what, start with a life coach. A few visits might help you understand the source of your malaise. Then they can point you in the right direction if it is out of their scope of practice. “I have referred people to therapists, grief support groups and other wellness practitioners when I feel they need more support than I alone can give,” Hedlund says.

Along these lines, most life and health coaches will offer a free consultation. A great coach wants to find the best path for you, even if that means sending you to a different coach. If your goals or sticking points don’t match their skill set, you can ask for a referral to one who does.

Before committing to any coach, check their certifications (ideally from an association accredited by the Commission for Certifying Agencies), check for online reviews and/or membership on professional services sites like Thumbtack, and ask for testimonials.

Once you’ve done all your homework, you can start building a plan together to push forward to the next level.

]]>5 Best Fitness Trackers for Travelershttps://www.wellwellwell.com/5-best-fitness-trackers-for-travelers/
Tue, 03 Oct 2017 16:52:18 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6691Ever forgotten to take off your brightly covered fitness tracker before a meeting? The days of needing a unsightly band to track your activities are numbered. The fitness trackers of today look more like watches, and are stylish enough to go from gym to office to dinner without missing a beat. But that doesn’t mean […]

Ever forgotten to take off your brightly covered fitness tracker before a meeting? The days of needing a unsightly band to track your activities are numbered. The fitness trackers of today look more like watches, and are stylish enough to go from gym to office to dinner without missing a beat.

But that doesn’t mean they skimp on performance — each monitors steps, sleep, workouts, and heart rate with work-friendly features like caller ID, email alerts, text messaging and calendar notifications.

Which one is right for you? Here are five to consider:

Apple Watch Series 2

The new version focuses on fitness, adding built-in GPS so you can run without your phone, meditation/ breathing guidance application and faster processor, so it can finally keep up with your busy life. Big for swimmers, new 50-meter water resistance lets you track swimming laps.

Apple Watch still smokes the competition for travel features: Check and respond to texts, answer calls, chat with Siri and play music. Unique Time Travel mode lets you glance ahead to see what the weather and your meeting schedule will be like when you reach your destination.

With Apple Pay, make purchases without revealing your card number. Built-in Navigation means you can quickly find your hotel — without looking like a lost tourist.

Fitbit’s first foray into smartwatch territory, the Blaze leans heavily toward fitness thanks to excellent activity tracking, sleep monitoring, built-in workouts and continuous heart rate tracking. Sleep and workouts are always tracked — even if you forget to press the go button. However, no built-in GPS means you have to carry a phone along if you want tracking during activity.

But the Blaze dips its toes into the smartwatch waters with travel-friendly features: Check texts and phone calls from the screen, receive calendar alerts and set silent alarms.

Swap between water-resistant and more stylish leather or link bands, and your Fitbit can masquerade as a watch.

This device tracks the usual suspects — heart rate, calorie burn and sleep — by way of 11 sensors. It also allows you to discretely check a message, call, or calendar alert on your band instead of pulling out your smartphone, and includes speak-to-text messaging for Windows and Android.

The second edition boasts comfortable curved fit, elevation tracking and longer battery life. Plays nice with all smartphones: Windows, Android, or Apple.

Microsoft Health website has free workouts you can upload to the Band — perfect for your hotel room or the hotel gym.

Pros: Check texts and calls from screen, free workouts on Band

Cons: Not waterproof, battery life reduces over time.

Price: Was $249.99, now $174.99

Samsung Gear S2

Notifications, texts, apps, navigation, fitness tracking — this smartwatch has all of these features. The sleek design and intuitive rotating bezel makes navigating the watch’s many features and apps easy, when paired with an Android phone.

Athletes may find the fitness features rudimentary, but they’re plenty effective for active every day users. Comes pre-loaded with Nike+ Running and automatically tracks walking, running, and cycling along with calories burned. Heart rate monitor is accurate when resting or active, and you can set inactivity alerts and goals to keep you moving.

Pros: Excellent battery life, premium watch styling, rotating bezel

Cons: Slow voice controls, limited apps

Price: From $299, more for GPS version

Garmin Vivosmart HR+

While Garmin’s Vivosmart HR+ may not look as stylish as some other fitness trackers, its data-rich activity and heart-rate tracking makes it a great choice for fitness fanatics. Run it phone free, thanks to built-in GPS, and track the data on the Garmin Connect app, which works with any smartphone.

Email and text notifications come in reliably and are easy to read on the bright screen. Unlike many smartwatches, you can receive messages from third-party apps like What’s App too.

Food fads can quickly come and go. Last year, the Paleo diet and lifestyle made a big splash, along with food trucks and menu delivery services like Blue Apron and Purple Carrot. Fresh pressed juices (similar to the ones in Cork & Kale) and Kombucha—fermented and sweetened black or green teas—filled grocery store shelves, and cauliflower elbowed kale out of the spotlight.

The healthy-eating trend continues to show staying power, as chefs and home cooks try to find ever more creative ways to incorporate into everyday meals all-important veggies, foods that pack in good belly bacteria and new flavors in the dairy category.

Here’s how your kitchen and grocery list is likely to evolve:

Zoodles

Zucchini noodles, or zoodles, along with other types of vegetable noodles, have become a popular alternative to traditional pasta. You can substitute any sort of vegetable noodle, such as zucchini, sweet potato, beets or butternut squash, for regular noodles, and top with your favorite sauce. In doing so, you’ll be packing in more protein and fiber into a single meal. Try out zoodles pre-spiraled at the store, then invest in a spiralizer kitchen gadget for at-home zoodles.

Gut-Friendly Foods

Kombucha and fermented foods—think kimchi and sauerkraut—have become known for their role in promoting healthy gut bacteria. New to this category are wellness tonics, which range from sour-sweet sparking probiotic drinks to apple cider vinegar-based concoctions and tumeric-flavored elixirs. All tout benefits of boosting your gut and immune system.

Less Waste

More restaurants are including compost bins into their trash and recycling efforts, but a few are going one step further by aiming to have zero taste. The topic will get a major platform in Anthony Bourdain’s forthcoming documentary, Waste! The Story of Food Waste. Meanwhile, look for restaurants and recipes using the by-products of other creations (like mushroom stems or broccoli stalks) to make a new dish.

Savory Yogurts

Some yogurt brands are stepping out beyond the standard berry, peach and melon with new flavors that might sound strange to some, but tasty to others. Think savory flavor combinations, such as pear and cardamom, mango sweet chili and coconut curry with cashews.

Flexitarian Diets

Rather than always eating gluten-free or vegan, trends are pointing towards a more flexible style of consumption. An 80/20 “flexitarian” diet lets you eat a meat-free or animal-free diet most of the time, while giving you some leeway for “cheat” days. For example, you can go vegan during the week, vegetarian on the weekends, and allow yourself meat once a month, or some combination.

]]>Heal Yourself: Holistic/Alternative Approaches to Injuryhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/heal-yourself-holisticalternative-approaches-to-injury/
Fri, 01 Sep 2017 16:26:31 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6680With all-natural and organic products taking over the grocery shelves and even the beauty and cleaning sections, it’s no surprise the “my-body-is-a-temple” way of thinking is bleeding into treatments for injuries from exercise. Why pop another pill if your knee is tweaking when a more natural approach is available? Here are five holistic approaches for […]

With all-natural and organic products taking over the grocery shelves and even the beauty and cleaning sections, it’s no surprise the “my-body-is-a-temple” way of thinking is bleeding into treatments for injuries from exercise. Why pop another pill if your knee is tweaking when a more natural approach is available?

Here are five holistic approaches for the everyday athlete to fend off injury and/or treat a workout-related ailment:

Acupuncture

This traditional Chinese medicine practice aims to realign imbalances in the body via the insertion of surgical, stainless steel needles at certain acupuncture points on the body. Acupuncture can help quell symptoms before they arise, but can also a range of aches and pains, plantar fasciitis and arthritis, as well as symptoms tied to fibromyalgia and lupus. The insertion of the needles can produce no feeling at all, a small pinch or more of a zing.

“Acupuncturists access the vital force of chi, the energy that flows through your entire body,” says Stefanie Greenleaf, a Boulder, Colo.,-based licensed acupuncturist who has been practicing for 11 years. “When it isn’t flowing the way it should, symptoms develop.”

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is a nonsurgical way to treat ligaments, tendons, and joints that have an acute or chronic injury, according to the American Osteopathic Association of Prolotherapy Regenerative Medicine. The procedure helps the body’s healing process by using a shot, filled with natural irritant substances such as glucose, platelet rich plasma or stem cells sources, to promote inflammation that is aimed directly at the injured site.

The body then is said to boost its healing inflammation mechanisms to promote new, healthier collagen growth. Depending on the extent of the injury, some spots will need just one treatment, while others may require four or more. You may experience swelling at the point of treatment for up to one week.

Cupping

Cupping — a process of using heated cups to apply suction to the skin — helps people cope with excess heat, stagnation or inflammation. Cupping is often used on larger parts of the body, like the upper and lower back, shoulders, glutes, hamstrings, and calves. The more stagnation or heat you have to release, the more likely you will have slight bruising.

A cupping session can be tailored to your body in terms of the amount of suction. Some practitioners, like Greenleaf, use a traditional technique of fire cupping, in which a cotton ball soaked in alcohol is held in the cup with a tweezers, lit on fire, then removed quickly to place the now suctioned cup onto the skin. Other practitioners use cups with a pump to provide an even stronger suction. Once they are suctioned, the cups provide a slight pull to the area of skin and muscle, similar to having a knot worked out of a muscle with massage.

Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a form of alternative medicine that involves moving, stretching and massaging a patient’s muscle and joints, with a focus on preventing and treating back, neck and should pain, as well as arthritis pain and athletic injuries. Osteopaths use a whole-person approach to tune into one’s well-being that includes assessment of nerves, muscles, bones and organs.

With osteopathy manipulative treatment, the goal is to increase joint mobility, relieve muscle pain and tension, and increase blood supply to tissues, according to the National Health Service of the United Kingdom. The treatment involves massage, stretching of stiff joints, movement of joints through their natural range of motion, as well as short, sharp movements to the spine that may produce cracking sounds or feelings.

Rolfing

Rolfing is a holistic practice in structural integration, in which bodyworkers manipulate the soft tissues (or fascia) of the joints, muscles, bones and organs in a systematic way to bring “order, easy, and function,” said Keith Economidis, a licensed rolfer and bodyworker in Boulder, Colo., home of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration. “What chiropractors do with bones, we do with soft tissue.”

Rolfing may appear similar to massage, but it focuses on changing the patient’s structure in response to gravity to promote better function. Rolfing sessions are also active — the patient gets involved in the work and movements. “Many folks find Rolfing as a last resort,” Econodimis said. “By easing and balancing the body, we find that more resource is available and more energy to do the things you want.”

]]>How To Focus When You’re Tired or Jet Laggedhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/how-to-focus-when-youre-tired-or-jet-lagged/
Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:27:10 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6673Whether you just got off an overnight flight or simply stayed up too late the night before, you will likely struggle with being productive at work all day. Here are ways to get yourself going — whether you’re making a big presentation to a client, wanting to show your “A game” at the office, or […]

Whether you just got off an overnight flight or simply stayed up too late the night before, you will likely struggle with being productive at work all day.

Here are ways to get yourself going — whether you’re making a big presentation to a client, wanting to show your “A game” at the office, or just want to get back to your productive self and accomplish more as quickly as possible:

Watch the Caffeine

First, don’t overdo it on the caffeine or alcohol before you try to sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Doing so will only disrupt your natural sleep patterns later that day. Instead, keep yourself hydrated and awake with plain water — and plenty of it. (The water bar at EVEN Hotels makes for the perfect hydration station.)

Get Back into Your Exercise Routine

Try to perk up with exercise, says Dr. Nitun Verma, a spokesman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a board-certified sleep physician for the Crossover Health Medical Centers in New York and California. “Go for a walk an hour before a critical meeting,” he advises. If you’re in New York City for a presentation, for example, stroll around the neighborhood near your hotel or office space. “Find an exciting place to explore to combat sleepiness,” he says.

Re-Set Your Body Clock

Jet lag happens when you travel into different time zones, but your body and its sleep- and wake-patterns still feel like they’re in the original time zone. To minimize weariness, Verma suggests trying this tactic during the first few days. Try to be outside when it’s bedtime in the time zone where you started your trip to help your reset your internal clock.

Use Techniques for East, West Travel

Jet lag can have a profound affect on performance. Research on baseball players found that “teams flying between New York City and the West Coast were affected more by travel than having a home field advantage,” Verma says.

To combat the effects of jet lag and to help you feel more focused and less fatigued, if you’re flying east, “Dim your phone and computer screens two to four hours before bedtime, and make sure your lights are very bright in the morning — this will help you fall asleep in your new time zone,” he says.

Similarly, if you’re flying west, “Keep your room lights dim for three to four hours after waking and keep the lights bright in the late afternoon and early evening,” he advises.

Don’t Let On You’re Tired

If you’re already exhausted, but need to look and sound alert for work, keep it to yourself, says Brad Phillips, president of Phillips Media Relations and the author of The Media Training Bible.

Having missed his fair share of flight connections, Phillips knows what it’s like to have to show your “A-game,” even on just four hours of sleep and a few sips of coffee. His tips include eating protein-rich foods and taking a power nap, as well as putting on your best face for an audience at a conference or your coworkers at a presentation.

“They showed up to get value from you — and your announcement that you might not do a great job tends to deflate the room,” he says.

Keep Your Wits About You

If something goes wrong during your presentation due to fatigue, maintain your sense of humor.

“If you make a mistake, laugh at yourself instead of getting caught up in your lack of perfection,” Phillip says. “Most audiences are more interested in making a genuine connection with the speaker than witnessing ‘the perfect speech.'”

If you go blank, ask the audience to assist. “You can say something such as, ‘I was so excited about that topic that I forgot where I was,'” he says.

Buzzing, dinging, honking, chattering, the rustle of wind, the sound of rainfall — these types of sounds can either collectively spell white noise — or major distraction.

“For many people, especially solo-preneurs, white noise is the heartbeat of productivity,” says Bob Clary, director of marketing atDevelopIntelligence, a technical learning solutions provider.“For me, I often go to the coffee shop to work when I need to be around other people and feel the energy that is lacking by myself at home. It’s definitely not for everyone — many still need a traditional office or cubicle to get in the mindset of working.”

But researchers have found a moderate amount of ambient white noise boosts creativity. There are even applications for it. No wonder some people love to work in public.

How Much White Noise Is Too Much?

A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research examined how ambient noise affects creativity. Researchers found that a moderate level of white noise — 70 dB — enhanced creative tasks. However, when the level rose to 85 dB, it hurt creativity. It seems the moderate level improves imagination, whereas a higher level of noise thwarts information processing — tanking your creative mojo.

The study observed people working in 50, 70 and 85 dB noise levels and found those working in the moderate range perform best.

White noise operates on a similar paradigm as the Mozart effect — the theory that certain music, namely classical, spurs one’s ability to solve abstract problems or improve creative flow. With music, science has shown that a moderate tempo without quick changes or lyrics works best. When the brain fixates on patterns it recognizes, and music stops becoming white noise, it can turn into a distraction.

How White Noise Works

White noise, like the hum of a plane engine or the quiet murmur of chatting passengers, is quickly filtered by the brain into ambient noise. You might not even notice it. White noise also helps to make other sounds less distracting.

Many people now sleep, work and walk to music or white noise, like wind, water, insects or rain in hopes to drown out distracting noises around them. You can find white noise to soothe babies, settle pets or help you concentrate.

A 2014 study in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience found playing white noise helps memory and improves learning in distracting environments, which is why it may be effective in heightening productivity.

If you want to know if white noise helps or hinders your work, try a moderate decibel — the sounds of New York City traffic, which can clock in at decibels up to 95 dB, render it distracting. Try working to the drone of the airport terminal or the chatter in a hotel lobby.

“A public space like a park, or one of the growing network of co-working spaces around the country are great places to get your noise ‘fix,'” Clary says.

White Noise Apps

Stuck in the office or working from your hotel room? Try one of these white noise apps perfect for day of accomplishing more:

Coffitivity (Android and iPhone) recreates the sound of a coffee shop with different vibes like morning murmur or the lunchtime bustle. (Free)

Noisli (Android and iPhone) is an ambient sound generator that lets you layer as many sounds as you like to create your own white noise. Choose among sounds including café, nature and conversation. ($1.99)

]]>5 Science-Backed Tips for Setting and Following Through on Intentionshttps://www.wellwellwell.com/5-science-backed-tips-for-setting-and-following-through-on-intentions/
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 16:53:59 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6662In yoga practice, setting an intention is a call to focus on the big picture: Who do you want to be? The answer might be “joyful” or “aware of the beauty in the world.” It is not, typically, a concept you would apply to work or everyday deadlines. Still, intentionality and goal setting are linked. […]

In yoga practice, setting an intention is a call to focus on the big picture: Who do you want to be? The answer might be “joyful” or “aware of the beauty in the world.”

It is not, typically, a concept you would apply to work or everyday deadlines.

Still, intentionality and goal setting are linked. After all, your (one) brain is in charge of both.

To help you juice brainpower and follow through on intentions, here are five tips derived from current research:

Know Your Networks

Neuroscientists divide brain function into four neural networks: default, reward, affect and control. They’re all important, but what sets humans apart from animals is the last one, which enables us to forego immediate gratification in favor of long-term goals.

In the famous marshmallow study of emotional intelligence from the 1960s, an emotionally intelligent four-year-old resists eating a single marshmallow now in favor of having two later. It’s the control network, known colloquially as willpower, that enables him to do this.

This has been demonstrated physiologically. When the control network takes charge, blood flow shifts to regions of the brain associated with achieving objectives.

Don’t Overtax the Control Network

You probably know from personal experience that willpower is a limited resource. Just as nimble companies prioritize the number of objectives to be pursued at once, individuals should focus on a limited number of goals.

Typically, two or three must-dos is enough. More will stress the network, with the result that you accomplish less.

And when it comes to multitasking, trying to do several things simultaneously, don’t even bother. Multiple studies, including one comparing the GPAs of students at the University of Connecticut, show that the attempt ends in fruitless wheel-spinning as your brain struggles to sort what’s relevant from what’s not.

The Early Bird Gets It Done

Behavioral psychologist Dan Ariely says that most people’s control network enjoys peak performance in the two hours after wake-up. Use those hours wisely — one strategy to ensure this is to plan your morning the night before.

By the same token, morning is the best time to dive in and accomplish the task you’re dreading, according to Florida State psychologist Roy Baumeister.

A fun subset of this concept is advice popularized by self-help guru Tim Ferris in his book, The Four-Hour Body. Start your day with a freezing cold shower. According to Ferris, everything else you take on will seem easy compared with a blast of cold water first thing in the morning. The EO products in your hotel shower could make this less daunting.

Work Out Hard

A host of research shows that exercise helps the brain function better. And recent studies imply that hard workouts are best.

According to New York University research on mice, strenuous exercise enhances production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is associated with healthy neurons and synapses.

Why? Apparently ketones released into the bloodstream stimulate the genes that make BDNF to put in a workout of their own. So head down to the fitness center or simply choose a great work out out of many in your EVEN Hotels room.

In another study, Dutch scientists reviewed research on humans and noted correlation between exercise and improved self-control. This may be because exercise increases blood and oxygen flow to the prefrontal cortex, where self-control originates.

Try It, You’ll Like It

Once you get used to meeting your goals, you’ll want to keep doing so. That’s the conclusion of Chinese scientists, who recently studied the brain chemistry of those ever-useful mice.

Using sophisticated technology, including specially adapted viruses, the scientists were able to motivate formerly subordinate mice to try harder and succeed in competition with their tougher cage-mates. Even without the technology, the one-time wimps kept trying and succeeding, causing the scientists to infer that success had become a reward of its own.

Whether you’re setting an intention like attaining inner peace — or a more attainable goal like writing a birthday card to Grandma — brain scientists have your back. Come to think of it, the example illustrates the tight link between grand intentions and the small items on the to-do list. If you’re looking for a healthy dose of inner peace, picture the smile on Grandma’s face when she gets that card.

]]>6 Ways to Maximize Your Commute Timehttps://www.wellwellwell.com/6-ways-to-maximize-your-commute-time/
Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:00:43 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6656Whether traveling by cramped Manhattan subway or carpooling in California’s gridlock traffic, the 26 minutes—on average—that Americans spend getting to work doesn’t need to be time wasted. You can maximize your ride time while benefiting your health and well-being with these six ideas: 1. Go Back to School Tired of the radio morning show drone as you […]

Tired of the radio morning show drone as you sit in traffic? Turn the radio off and learn something new with free college courses from iTunes U. This campus never sleeps, so you can listen anytime, anywhere to leading professors from top universities like Stanford and Harvard. For subway rides, try shorter episodes of the TED Radio Hour podcast, during which TEDTalks’ speakers focus on meaningful topics like success, tolerance and how to spot a liar. Bonus: Your newfound knowledge will make office water cooler talk all the more interesting.

2. Learn a Foreign Language

Instead of scanning your Facebook feed—again—use your bus or train time to master a foreign language. Duolingo’s free smartphone application uses games, bite-sized lessons and adaptable modules to make learning a new tongue a breeze. Pick from 29 languages, and in no time at all you’ll be greeting fellow commuters with “Kon’nichiwa” or “Bonjour.”

3. Get Fit

From boosting happiness and productivity to lowering your blood pressure and building muscle, the benefits of exercise are robust. Bike, run or walk to work, and get your daily fitness dose without hitting the gym. Even if you can’t bike or walk to work every day, spend just one day a week commuting sans car or subway and net health benefits while saving fuel and money. Try a bike share for affordable bike rentals in most major cities. If you can’t walk or bike your entire commute because of the distance, get off the bus or train a few stops early to add walking time to your route.

4. Zen Out

Your ride to work doesn’t need to stress you out. Instead, make it the most relaxing part of your day by using deep breathing techniques or a free mindfulness app like Headspace. Meditating on a crowded subway car may sound impossible, but if you bring along good-quality pair of headphones and close your eyes, you might be surprised by how much you can tune out. Choose a meditation routine that’s slightly shorter than your ride and arrive at the office feeling fresh and focused.

5. Set Goals

Big-city gridlock traffic and subway waits seem to keep growing. Instead of getting upset about delays, spend the extra time working on personal development. Use your smartphone to create a daily to-do list, set weekly goals or read a self-development book covering skills you want to gain. Use Audible for easy on-the-go listening if driving into the office.

6. Clear the Clutter

Skip Candy Crush, and start your day with a clean inbox by purging unimportant emails while commuting. Better yet, spend the bus or subway ride signing up for Unroll.Me. This free web service quickly unsubscribes you from mailing lists and lumps mass emails into a single daily message—making your overwhelming inbox easier to manage than ever.

]]>9 Essentials for Your Hotel Night Standhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/9-essentials-for-your-hotel-night-stand/
Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:08:11 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6650For many people, it’s important to keep their night stand at home stocked with simple comforts to stave off overnight nuisances like thirst or unwanted light or sound. On the road, where you’re already coping with an unfamiliar schedule and surroundings, it’s even more important to place a few handy tools within arm’s reach as […]

For many people, it’s important to keep their night stand at home stocked with simple comforts to stave off overnight nuisances like thirst or unwanted light or sound. On the road, where you’re already coping with an unfamiliar schedule and surroundings, it’s even more important to place a few handy tools within arm’s reach as you sleep.

As you pack for your next trip, keep these nine bedside must-haves in mind to ensure your rest — no matter what.

1. Sleep Mask

Whether at home or away, you can only control the brightness of a room from within. Although you may have turned off the lights and drawn the curtains tight, it only takes a shard of moonlight (or a security light that flickers on every time a bird flies nearby) to disturb your slumber. Keeping a comfortable sleep mask nearby is an easy way to keep things dark and peaceful.

2. Earplugs

If you’re highly sensitive to noise, putting your phone on “silent,” may not be enough to help you drift off to sleep. Place a pair of earplugs within arm’s reach, but if you use them, make sure to set your morning alarm to a louder setting than usual.

3. Water

Ever wonder why you tend to weigh slightly less when you wake up than you did when you went to bed the night before? It’s because you lose significant amounts of water overnight through perspiration and respiration. What’s more, if you’ve ingested something salty or alcoholic before retiring for the evening, you can wake up parched in the middle of the night. An easy solution: a glass of water on the nightstand. Take up some refreshing water from the infused water bar or calming tea from the lobby of your EVEN Hotel.

4. Moisturize

Likewise, your skin can begin to feel dry as you sleep — especially if you’ve flown that day or are traveling in a less-humid environment than the one where you live. Few sensations are more irritating than papery hands or dry elbows, so keep hand or body lotion by the bed — your own brand or the hotel’s.

5. Lip Balm

Dry lips can also create discomfort and even set a feedback loop into place as you lick them to relieve the dryness, in turn making them drier still. A small tube or tin of lip balm at hand can give you instant relief and let you focus on falling asleep instead.

6. Paper and Pen

A huge enemy of sleep — particularly when traveling — is the gnawing feeling that you’ve forgotten something important as you’re trying to rest. Keeping a pen and paper on your bedside table is a perfect defensive move. Hotels typically add this special touch as a courtesy so that, when the inevitable moment of clarity hits, you can scrawl a note to yourself without getting out of bed. That task or idea will still be there waiting for you the next day.

7. Sleep Spray

Whether spritzing a linen spray onto your pillowcase or lending a bit of fragrance to the air in the room as you prepare for bed, aromatherapy in spray form offers a straightforward way to tell your mind it’s time to relax. Lavender, eucalyptus and chamomile are effective scents to that end, and they smell delightful, too.

8. Scented Candle

Taking part in an evening ritual is another way to prepare the body for a deep and restorative period of rest. Lighting a scented candle can evoke a pleasant sense of calm. Similar to a sleep spray, the fragrant oils in the wax can send signals to the brain that it’s time for the pulse to slow down, the lungs to take deeper breaths — and the day’s worries to fade away.

9. Breath Mints

Mint gives most people a lift, hence its presence in toothpaste, tea and even ice cream. A simple way to start the wake up process while still in bed is to pop a breath mint or mint-flavored gum. Let it engage your senses and bring you into a state of alertness before your feet even hit the floor.

]]>The Best Recovery Techniques and Gear for Travelinghttps://www.wellwellwell.com/the-best-recovery-techniques-and-gear-for-traveling/
Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:38:45 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6644With ever-shrinking space for carry-on luggage, it can be hard to find enough room for athletic shoes and workout clothes, let alone additional gear. But it’s worth it to make room for certain items that can help your body recover from a tough workout. Here are six items worth squeezing in your bag: Foam Roller […]

With ever-shrinking space for carry-on luggage, it can be hard to find enough room for athletic shoes and workout clothes, let alone additional gear. But it’s worth it to make room for certain items that can help your body recover from a tough workout.

Here are six items worth squeezing in your bag:

Foam Roller

The one piece of gear nearly every athlete and recovery expert recommends is a foam roller. Made of a dense foam, a roller stretches out and loosens the connective tissue between joints, and works out knots and kinks in your muscles.

“I have a love/hate relationship with my foam roller, because of my muscle density and the amount of work it takes just to hit the [right spots],” said professional downhill mountain biker Amanda Batty. “But it’s so worth it — 45 minutes with the foam roller is much preferable to not being able to walk.”

Don’t have room for a large foam roller in your bag? No problem. Every EVEN Hotels room comes with a foam roller (and yoga mat, exercise ball, yoga block, and resistance bands) so you can get the stretch you need.

Ice Packs, Muscle Balm

Even the best downhill racers crash often, and if Batty feels like she’s actually injured herself, she skips the foam roller and goes straight to the ice packs and muscle balm.

“A good ice pack is an athlete’s best friend,” Batty said. The best packs are the ones that can be heated or cooled, so they’re really versatile and perfect for any recovery.

Medical experts have long debated the benefits of muscle balms, with many believing that the cooling heat sensation offers little more than a placebo. However, many athletes swear by them. Best of all, if you’re strapped for suitcase space, every drugstore chain carries it.

Massage

For many athletes, there’s nothing quite like a massage to recover from an intense workout. “Massage helps delayed onset muscle soreness by increasing the circulation to the area as well as working on lengthening the muscle fibers that you just stressed in your workout, allowing those tiny tears to start rebuilding easier and quicker,” said Indianapolis-based massage therapist Danielle Fry.

To find a qualified massage therapist on the road, search for credentials, such as a state certification or license, as well as the initials CMT (certified massage therapist) or LMT (licensed massage therapist) after their name. Try to find reviews of the therapist on a site or ask the staff at the front desk for recommendations.

If you know you’re going to be doing an intense workout or event, be sure to book the therapist in advance; the best massage therapists rarely have day-of availability.

Cold/Hot Bath

Ice baths are a staple of many an athlete’s recovery, making this one of the few recovery techniques that might be easier on the road than at home. After all, how many homes have commercial ice makers on every floor? Immersing yourself in a tub filled with ice-cold water helps reduce lactic-acid, which saps your muscle strength and causes that achy-burning sensation, as well as any additional swelling and inflammation.

For an added benefit, try contrast therapy — switching from cold to hot water and back to cold. For best results, keep the hot water between 99 and 109 degrees Fahrenheit, and the cold between 54-59 degrees Fahrenheit, and alternating for about 15 minutes. Researchers say contrast therapy doesn’t shut down your muscles like bathing in only cold water, making it a useful technique for anyone doing multiple training sessions in a day.

Do a quick search of nearby athletic studios or spas that this service. Or again, don’t be shy to ask the front desk staff to help you narrow some options.

Water Bottle

Staying hydrated during a workout or long plane ride is an easy way to keep your body in balance. “Muscle tissue is 75 percent water, so dehydration directly influences muscle function and hinders proper recovery,” said Matthew Harber, the director of Clinical Exercise Physiology Lab and the Adult Physical Fitness Program at Ball State University.

While it might be tempting to go for one last long run before your evening flight, you might want to relax and hydrate on a travel day, because exercise can reduce your immune function. If you must be active, do a light core workout, which will help your spine and the surrounding muscles and joints when sitting much of the day.

A tough steel water bottles that keep water perfectly chilled and can easily withstand the rigors of travel. Don’t have one? Don’t worry. There is an EVEN Hotels water bottle in every room for you to keep – it’s the perfect size for you take on a run and a great souvenir to keep you hydrated on the way home.

]]>Coffee vs. Tea: Which One’s The Healthier Option?https://www.wellwellwell.com/coffee-vs-tea-which-ones-the-healthier-option/
Fri, 21 Jul 2017 16:43:50 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6632Most adults around the world rise each morning and start the day with a cup of their favorite hot beverage, whether brewed at home or picked up on the way to work. Hardly unique to modern times, the ritual of brewing roasted coffee beans for alertness dates back to the 13th century, when Muslim communities […]

Most adults around the world rise each morning and start the day with a cup of their favorite hot beverage, whether brewed at home or picked up on the way to work. Hardly unique to modern times, the ritual of brewing roasted coffee beans for alertness dates back to the 13th century, when Muslim communities in Arabia would drink it to help them through long prayer sessions.

Morning tea, on the other hand, is a more recent development in the West, dating back to the 19th century emergence of mid-morning tea breaks across Great Britain, often accompanied by snacks. Today, while mileage may vary on the amount of caffeine anyone needs to jump-start their day, the debate rages on about which is the healthier choice.

Does one preference pack more of a punch than the other? Here’s what some experts say:

Team Coffee

Americans may prefer coffee as their morning drink of choice, but globally people consume three cups of tea for every cup of coffee,according to Pew Research Center. That ratio may make the cup of Joe an underdog, but not necessarily the inferior option.

It turns out moderate coffee consumption has been associated with instances of a range of ailments, from Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease to colorectal cancer and Parkinson’s disease, according to research cited by the Mayo Clinic. And while more comprehensive studies are needed to confirm cause and effect, a 2011 study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine noted a potential link between increased coffee consumption and decreased depression among women.

The trick, it turns out, is to consume your coffee the right way. Sugar, cream/milk and flavorings can add hundreds of calories to one cup, wreaking havoc on metabolic and cardiovascular health. Likewise, too much coffee in any form can give you the jitters and even raise your cholesterol levels if you’re drinking it unfiltered (i.e., espresso or simply boiled). So, if you’re a java loyalist, keep it under three cups a day and take it black.

Team Tea

Tea brings to mind a sense of ritual, from traditional triple servings of Moroccan mint tea signifying life, love and death to the multiple tiers of tea ceremonies enjoyed in England by royals and commoners alike. No matter where it’s consumed, tea offers a long list of health-boosting properties. Often packed with antioxidants, tea can protect your bones, boost your immune system, reduce inflammation, aid digestion, soothe the throat, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and potentially even prevent some forms of cancer.

Chief among the tea leaves is the powdered substance known as matcha, a versatile pulverized version of green tea that’s packed with catechin—the same phytochemical compound found in dark chocolate and red wine and touted for its bone-friendly and heart-healthy properties. Herbal teas, meanwhile, boast calming, restorative properties. Those with licorice root can soothe sore throats and acid reflux sufferers, while chamomile and lavender can gently trigger a state of relaxation.

There aren’t many “cons” with tea. Too much green tea can inhibit the absorption of iron into the blood, but a mere cup or two a day is generally a safe bet. Over-brewing or improperly storing the leaves can lead to bitterness or a stale, musty taste, so it’s best to brew from home or find a tea barista who knows their business.

And the Winner Is…

All things being equal, tea seems to come out on top thanks to its broad range of health benefits. Have an evening cup in the lobby at EVEN Hotels. At the same time, there’s no end in sight to the research being conducted on coffee’s hidden perks. So, if you don’t think you can live without that daily cup, don’t despair. Whatever your wake-up ritual or afternoon pick-me-up, there’s something in it for your own well-being.

]]>A Day of Healthy Eating in Manhattanhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/a-day-of-healthy-eating-in-manhattan/
Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:14:57 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6627These days it seems as though New York City has a build-your-own salad spot, Green Market or Soul Cycle studio popping up on every corner. Here’s a sampling of old — and new school — dining options offering a full day’s worth of health-minded dining options. Eye Opener: Cha Cha Matcha Green tea enthusiasts flock […]

These days it seems as though New York City has a build-your-own salad spot, Green Market or Soul Cycle studio popping up on every corner. Here’s a sampling of old — and new school — dining options offering a full day’s worth of health-minded dining options.

Eye Opener: Cha Cha Matcha

Green tea enthusiasts flock to Cha Cha Matcha, which bills itself as the city’s only cafe devoted to everything matcha. Opt for a latte, cappuccino or lemonade at this Little Italy spot and then decide if you would like your beverage sweet, strong or gussied up with a splash of non-dairy milk. Looking for something a little more decadent? Cha Cha does a mean matcha milkshake as well.

Breakfast: El Rey

Well before new school California cuisine was all the rage, El Rey brought the flavors of SoCal to the Lower East Side. The morning menu is all about granola topped with crunchy pepitas and chia pudding sprinkled with sweet coconut and agave. if you’re getting a late start, El Rey’s all day menu kicks off at 11 a.m. bringing heartier fare, like avocado with pickled red onio, pita and chimichurri, and faro salads dotted with sheets milk cheese — all of which can become more breakfast-like with the addition of a poached or pickled egg.

Lunch: Bistango

For anyone who thinks a life without gluten means bidding farewell to pasta and pizza, Bistango is a dream come true. With locations in Midtown and Kips Bay, Bistango gives you the option of enjoying anything on the savory menu gluten free. That means the penne with brown butter and butternut squash, rigatoni Bolognese and margherita pizzas are all back on the table. Bistango even boasts two raw gluten- and dairy-free desserts to end the meal on a sweet and healthy note. Less than half a mile from EVEN Hotels Midtown East – making the walk home the perfect post-dinner stroll.

Happy Hour: Terroir

Terroir was championing organic and biodynamic wines way before natural wine generated buzz among oenophiles. Terroir’s daily 4 to 6 p.m. happy hours offer discounts on pours from its eclectic and epic wine list featuring everything from single vineyard Rieslings to locally fermented ciders and aged sherries. Check out the food menu for wine-friendly bites to accompany happy hour pours, including charred shishito peppers, smokey almonds and raw cheese boards from local makers.

Dinner: Candle 79

With 30 years on the Upper East Side, Candle 79 is the grand dame of New York’s vegetarian dining scene. Even in its third decade, this institution still holds plenty of appeal with an internationally influenced menu — think everything from live young coconut pad Thai and guacamole timbale to flatbreads with truffled almond cheese and seitan Piccata. Candle 79’s cocktail menu uses a garden’s worth of ingredients to mix one-of-a-kind creations, like wheatgrass infused vodka, Goji berry liqueur and fig-scented bourbon. Come time for dessert, vegans will flip for dairy-free versions of chocolate mousse pie and coconut ice cream-topped cannoli.

]]>The Easiest Ways to Hit the Pavement Anywhere You Travelhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/the-easiest-ways-to-hit-the-pavement-anywhere-you-travel/
Thu, 06 Jul 2017 22:19:28 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6622If you’re a runner away from home and need a break after a day full of meetings, reports, and conference calls, a run around the city might just be the ticket. We don’t blame you for wanting to use the in-room work out facilities in your EVEN Hotels guest room or if you want to […]

If you’re a runner away from home and need a break after a day full of meetings, reports, and conference calls, a run around the city might just be the ticket. We don’t blame you for wanting to use the in-room work out facilities in your EVEN Hotels guest room or if you want to sweat the stress out in our state of the art gym.

But if you want to add scenery, camaraderie — or both — to your cardio, nothing will do but an outdoor run. Here are a few do’s (and one don’t!) to get you out and get you going.

Follow Your Map

Not everyone loves mapping out their runs. Most of us just want to know where we’re going and go! If you’re that type of runner, grab a wallet sized running map from the front desk when you check in at any EVEN Hotels. It’ll reflect the local neighborhood, and map different distance runs. So, whether your morning routine allows for a short mile sprint, or your evening run requires a few extra strides, you know where you’re going and how to get there.

Book a Run

Sign up for an organized running tour that enables you to make new friends, get exercise and learn about the locale all at once. If you’re staying at an EVEN Hotels Times Square South, you might be surprised to find that some of our staff will lead group runs with the hotel guests upon request.

However, if it doesn’t work for your schedule, you can always find a running tour. These are available in many cities in the U.S. and abroad. One of the oldest operators, City Running Tours, promises “fascinating facts, interesting stories and incredible landmarks” on regularly scheduled three-plus mile themed guided tours. Available in multiple cities, it might be the easiest way to get a up close and personal glimpse of the neighborhood, make a few friends, and burn some calories.

Follow the Water

Use a map or app to find a body of water nearby, be it ocean, river or lake. Chances are good there will be a suitable running path beside it, one that’s reasonably flat and features inspiring views. This strategy, which requires minimal advance planning, is a sure way to shake of the stress brought on by travel. Take a moment on your run to reset your mind and recharge your body.

Crowd Source Your Route

Follow a running app, such as MapMyRun, which crowd-sources routes from its users all over the world. You can either figure out where you’re going, or if you’re feeling a bit free-spirited, you can see where you’ve been post-run. Challenge yourself and others with this

Don’t Forget Your (Temporary) Address

Don’t leave your hotel without making note of its address. Put it in your phone or slip a note in your pocket just in case you run further than intended.

]]>Where to Find the Best Post Workout Breakfasts in the USAhttps://www.wellwellwell.com/where-to-find-the-best-post-workout-breakfasts-in-the-usa/
Mon, 03 Jul 2017 16:54:16 +0000http://www.wellwellwell.com/?p=6617Powering up for an early morning workout is all about keeping it light. A coffee and a smoothie might give you the juice to power through your routine, but once you hit the showers, a real deal breakfast is a must. Immediately after exercising, your body is in prime form for taking in both carbs […]

Powering up for an early morning workout is all about keeping it light. A coffee and a smoothie might give you the juice to power through your routine, but once you hit the showers, a real deal breakfast is a must. Immediately after exercising, your body is in prime form for taking in both carbs and protein—both essential elements for getting the day started on the right foot. When you’re on the road, you especially want to find the ideal combo of refueling carbs and proteins for a balanced breakfast.

Here’s a look at some of the greatest grain bowls, tastiest toasts and healthful hashes that will keep you going strong until lunchtime.

Protein Up

Protein Bar is a mini-chain of sunny, fast casual spots with two locations in Washington, D.C. Quick counter service offers sweet and savory options for health-forward day starters. Protein packed eggs (or egg whites, if you’d like) are scrambled with add-ons like spinach and pesto or a Mexican-inspired combo of black beans, cheddar, avocado and salsa roja. Oatmeal enthusiasts can dig into bowls of peanut butter and acai puree and antioxidant-packed matcha green tea powder.

The Power of Green

Times Square might not be the epicenter of wellness (well, with the exception of EVEN Hotels Times Square South) but Green Symphony, a combination health food store and restaurant, is a low key favorite for whole foods. Here you can find organic sprouted bagels layered with avocado and roasted tomatoes and onions, Asian breakfast wraps that spike seaweed and eggs with sesame and ginger, along with hemp oatmeal loaded up with almond butter, pear, kale, spinach and flax seeds.

SoCal Style in NYC

White washed walls and handcrafted wood furniture outfit this little slice of Southern California in Manhattan. At breakfast time, Dimes spreads wholegrain toast with unlikely pairings like goat cheese and persimmon compote, and tops spicy porridge with turmeric, dates and buckwheat granola. Citrus is a major player on the morning drinks list with cleansing combos of lemon and cayenne, and lime and basil.

Japanese — It’s What’s for Breakfast

French toast and eggs Benedict are nowhere to be found at Okonomi. Instead, this minimalistic Brooklyn (not far from EVEN Hotels Brooklyn) restaurant specializes in Japanese breakfast, a rotating menu of rice, fish, soup and eggs. On any given day, you can find handmade ceramic plates with delicate portions of tuna belly, tender omelets, pickled vegetables and eggs gently poached in a soy broth.

Local Flavors

Highlighting local purveyors keeps Norwalk’s Sugar and Olives‘ morning menu both fun and fresh. Instead of a weighty plate of sausages, beans and potatoes, a full English here is a playful preparation of shirred duck eggs matched with a root vegetable and pork belly hash.

Healthy in Omaha

Heartland breakfasts tend to focus on heft rather than health, but if you happen to find yourself at EVEN Hotels Omaha Downtown, Dugger’s Cafe is the place for invigorating morning eats. This breakfast go-to brings veggies to the table with egg casseroles loaded with squash, artichoke and spinach. Those with gluten issues set will find a custom menu featuring gluten-free French toast and pancakes.